PEACHES UNDER GLASS. 79 



Dr. Durfee, of Fall River, especially with reference to the 

 growth of the peach. 



Dr. Durfee. I have no objection to stating my experience 

 in growing and raising the peach under glass. It is something 

 like fifteen years since I commenced. I had a house seventy- 

 two feet long. I put a trellis against the wall of that house, 

 and planted six trees, spreading them out fan-like upon the 

 wall. I then had a trellis built in front, upon which I put sis 

 more. These trees, with the exception of one or two which 

 have decayed, have borne every year from the first year they 

 were set out, and I have had an abundance of fruit from those 

 trees, of the finest quality. It has been said that you cannot 

 get the peach in perfection under glass ; that the fruit is watery, 

 and insipid to the taste ; but I think I can say that as fine 

 peaches as ever grew have been grown under that glass for now 

 something like fifteen years, and in great abundance ; for I have 

 had, every year, to thin them out, more or less, to prevent in- 

 jury to the trees. Oftentimes I have taken off five out of six 

 of every lot that exhibited itself on the trees, and then had an 

 abundance of fruit. Tliere are gentlemen here who have seen 

 the fruit when growing, and I see a friend here who had an 

 opportunity last fall of knowing something of the quality of the 

 peach when grown. 



That is the only way in which I have been able to cultivate 

 the peach at all. I tried the cultivation of the peach on a trellis 

 against a wall out of doors, and I found a north-west exposure 

 was far better for the crop than any other exposure. I think a 

 hot, scorching sun injures our peach-trees more than anything 

 else, especially after a rain. I have noticed that when we had 

 a shower of rain, followed by a hot sun, it almost invariably 

 killed the buds, and I had no crop. I think, if any one desires 

 to cultivate the peach, the best way is to try it under glass. I 

 think it may be made profitable. I do not make it profitable, 

 because I prefer to have the pleasure of giving them away, 

 rather than to sell them. 



The finest quality of peach that I know to be raised is what 

 is called the George the Fourth. The Early Crawford is a very 

 fine peach. I raise the Crawford early and the Crawford late ; 

 but I do not think the yellow peach, under glass, can be brought 

 to that perfection that a white peach can. 



