PEACH TRKE» 203 



very injurious. All dead branches, howevep, and even 

 thrifty ones, which interfere and chafe each other, and 

 every sucker proceeding from the trunk or roots, should 

 he carfully removed. Pear trees, and other fruit trees, 

 are frequently affected, and sometimes suddenly, with- 

 out discovering the causes of their decline. A gentle- 

 man of Maryland has been very successful in preserving 

 his trees by washing their trunks with soft soap. 



From the pear is prepared a pleasant liquor, known 

 under the name of perry, which is made in the same 

 manner as cider. In England, particular kinds of pears 

 are cultivated for this purpose, and the hquor is held in 

 high estimation. 



PEACH TREE. 



Peach trees require a warm, dry, fertile soil : A san- 

 dy loam is best. If the spot where they are planted be 

 sheltered from the northerly winds, it will be the better. 

 It is exceedingly to be regretted, that these trees of late 

 years have become liable to premature decay, and the 

 period of their duration is greatly diminished, insomuch, 

 that their continuance in a healthy bearing state seldom 

 exceeds 3 or 4 years. This misfortune is increased by 

 the circumstance, that a peach orchard cannot be rear- 

 ed a second time on the same spot, unless the soil be 

 renovated by several years intermediate culture of other 

 crops. 



To raise the young trees, take stones that are fully 

 ripe, and plant them in October, about 2 inches deep. — 

 They will come up and grow to a good size in the 

 course of the summer. They are to be kept clear of 

 weeds, while in the nursery. At a years growth, they 

 may be inoculated, and, after two summer's growth, 

 they may be transplanted. This may be done when 

 the leaves have fallen in autumn, or in the sj)rino'. If 

 the stones are not planted in the fall, they must be pre- 

 served in sand, and planted in March : in this case they 

 must be broken open without injuring the kernel. Some 

 think it best to plant stone fruit, on a small spot, and 

 afterwards plant the seedlings out in the nursjery. This 

 may be done the next fall or spring after they are 

 planted. 



