THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



appeared in 1898, during fruiting season. 

 In each of the lower corners, says the 

 Farmers' Advocate, in which this cut 

 first appeared, will be seen a single tree 

 loaded with choice peaches ; on the 

 right hand is a Barnard tree ; on the left, 

 one of the Golden Drop variety. The 

 latter was taken from a tree in a block 

 containing 300 of this sort ; they gave a 

 yield of about 2,000 baskets, which sold 

 at an average of forty-five cents per 

 twelve-quart basket : nine hundred dol- 

 lars for this their first crop. These 

 trees have been planted six years. The 

 lower central picture is a view down the 

 center of the orchard ; at the top are 

 two views looking diagonally across 

 either side of the farm. The upper 

 central figure is the residence of Mr. 

 Hilborn, located on the opposite side of 

 the road and directly in front of the 

 central or leading road through the farm. 

 It is built on a triangular piece of land 

 containing three acres. 



The orchard contains over 12,000 

 trees, not half of which bore a crop of 

 fruit this season ; nearly all will be old 

 enough to produce a crop next year. 

 The yield, of course, is not so great on 

 these young trees, the average being 

 about two to three baskets per tree. 

 The quantity produced by a peach tree 

 increases rapidly with age. This season 

 thirty baskets were gathered from a 

 single tree nine years planted. It was a 

 sight worth going many miles to see the 

 Brigdens, Fitzgeralds, Barnards, Cros- 

 bys, Longhursts, Golden Drops, Smocks, 

 and many other kinds laden with their 

 choice fruit. The finest grades sold for 

 sixty cents to one dollar per basket. 

 Although less than half of the orchard 

 produced a crop, the net returns after 

 paying all expenses was, we understand, 

 between $2,000 and $3,000. 



The trees are planted fifteen by eigh- 

 teen feet apart, in blocks containing 



twenty four rows of twenty trees in a row. 

 These blocks are located on either side 

 of the central drive, which is thirty feet 

 in width. Between each two blocks a 

 crossroad is left twenty-five feet wide for 

 convenience in gathering the fruit, etc. 

 The trees are pruned every spring. 

 The first two or three years after plant- 

 ing the trimming consists in thinning 

 out the superfluous branches and short- 

 ening in the longest limbs. After the 

 trees come into bearing, thinning out is 

 all that is required in the way of prun- 

 ing. Every spring cultivation begins 

 quite early or when growth starts. The 

 land between the trees is plowed to a 

 depth of three or four inches. This is 

 done with a regular farm plow, as near 

 to the trees as possible. A side draft 

 is attached, which permits plowing quite 

 close to them. An implement called a 

 " grape hoe " is used to turn the soil 

 that cannot be reached with the com- 

 mon plow. Cultivation is continued at 

 frequent intervals, say once a week, up 

 to the middle or last of July, with har- 

 row and cultivator. It is then discon- 

 tinued in order that the wood and fruit 

 buds will ripen up properly to withstand 

 the cold of winter. When the trees are 

 young, crimson clover or rye is sown 

 among them at last time of cultivating. 

 This is plowed under quite early the 

 following spring. The fruit usually be- 

 gins to ripen about July 15th to 25th. 

 One variety continues to succeed an- 

 other until about October 10th to 25th, 

 thus give a continuous supply for three 

 months. The fruit is carefully picked 

 into baskets by men and boys. All of 

 the fruit is not in condition to pick at 

 once. The trees have usually to be 

 gone over three or four times at inter- 

 vals of two or three days, in order that 

 all may be gathered at the proper degree 

 of ripeness, each time taking only what 

 is sufficiently ripe for market. As fast 



250 



