PEACH AND THE PEAR. 



45 



best location on your property that has not been in 

 peaches before, and. keeping in view the advice I have 

 given, you will probably not err. Plant trees from 

 eighteen to twenty feet apart, according as your land 

 and culture will bring large or small trees. The former 

 will give you one hundred and nine trees to the acre, the 

 latter, one hundred and thirty-four trees, and each will 

 be right, on its proper soil. The trees may be planted 

 in the autumn or in the spring. The majority of growers 

 prefer the autumn ; then they have more time, they get 

 the trees in good condition and fresh dug, the latter not 

 having been "heeled in" all winter ; as spring trees 

 often have been when they come from the nursery. 

 Again, the tree has settled and is ready to go off at 

 once in the spring, after having been planted in the fall. 

 Outside of these reasons it really doesn't make much 

 difference whether the trees are planted in the spring or 

 in the autumn. The ground, I think, should be ploughed 

 deep, and thoroughly prepared, as for a premium wheat 

 or corn crop, before the trees are planted, although the 

 general custom is to turn a few furrows, plant the trees, 

 and defer further cultivation until the spring. Thorough 

 preparation destroys the bedding for mice, and, hence, 

 will check their depredations, and this is important. 

 The rows may be run by the plough, and cross-furrows 

 where the trees are to be set. The holes should be wide 

 enough to receive the roots without cramping, and deep 



