THE PEACn. 99 



peacli-tree, a little excess of moisture is very prejudi- 

 cial. A happy medium, neither too dry nor too moist, 

 is the great desideratum. 



Planting Out. — The ground intended for peach or- 

 chards should be ploughed as deeply as possible, and 

 made fine by subsequent harrowing. If well manured 

 the previous year, all the better. The trees, which 

 should be one year old, counting from the budding, are 

 to be placed not nearer than twenty feet apart, which 

 makes one hundred and eight to the acre^: on strong 

 land, where they would attain to still greater size, they 

 should be at least twenty-four feet apart. Cultivate in 

 corn or potatoes, the first two seasons, after which the 

 trees wall begin to bear, and generally make sufficient 

 grow^th to require all the ground for themselves. This 

 ground should be ploughed and harrowed every season, 

 and the trees hoed around, to break up all sward. 



Pruning. — In general, very little pruning is done to 

 peach-trees in the United States, which is strongly con- 

 trasted with the elaborate treatment they receive from 

 European fruit culturists. One of the main objects in 

 trimming is to thin out the branches, so as to throw 

 them open and allow the sun to penetrate to, every part 

 of the tree. This greatly improves the fruit in flavor 

 and color, and thus secures its better sale. Those who 

 have, but a few trees to manage may adopt modes of 

 winter and summer trimming, which will prove of very 

 great advantage to the fruit. "The young wood should 

 be kept thin, and every new growth shortened by fall 

 or winter pruning. In this way, the beauty, vigor and 

 productiveness of th6 tree may be greatly improved. 



At the first meeting of the National Convention of 

 Fruit-growers, held in the city of New York, October, 



