PEACH AND THE PEAR. 53 



impede the pickers, and render them very uncomfortable 

 by wetting their clothing on rainy days and dewy 

 mornings. 



Too much stress cannot be laid on the cultivation 

 of the orchard. An orchard uncultivated for a season 

 can never be properly reclaimed. By cultivation we 

 destroy insect-life and open up the soil for the introduc- 

 tion of food to the tree ; we allow oxydation of the iron 

 and other elements of the soil to go on ; we scatter and 

 disintegrate the fertilizers applied to the land, keep 

 down the growth of weeds and grasses, and instead 

 of allowing them to sap the ground for their own 

 nourishment, we turn them into additional food for the 

 tree. I know of one very successful grower who advo- 

 cates ploughing eight inches deep, but as a rule I 

 recommend shallower ploughing. 



FERTILIZATION OF THE ORCHARD. 



Until very recently, the fertilization of the peach- 

 orchard was taken little account of, even by the most 

 intelligent and progressive growers. The Peninsula 

 was thought to be the home of the peach, that home 

 being stored with inexhaustible supplies, laid away in its 

 soil, of potash and phosphoric acid, of iron and of 

 magnesia, and all other favorite dishes upon which the 

 dainty peach feeds. The latter grew and thrived, and 

 brought riches and happiness to the fortunate growers, 



