PRUNING AND CARE OF A PEACH ORCHARD 



THE PRUNING AND CARE OF A PEACH 

 ORCHARD 



THIS highly interesting and practical address by Roland 

 Morrill, of Benton Harbor, Mich., was illustrated by 

 pictures thrown upon the screen, showing with great 

 clearness the actual operations of pruning, etc, as practiced 

 in Mr. Morrill's extensive orchards. Mr. Morrill first paid 

 tribute to the magnificent trees of Connecticut, saying that 

 the people of the state ought to be proud of their fine 

 elms, and should realize their importance and value. 



He further said that the aim of the peach grower is to 

 obtain the largest possible bearing area in the shortest 

 possible time. By intensive cultivation it is possible to 

 grow as large a tree in three or four years as is usually 

 obtained in five or six : it is also a better tree if grown 

 rapidly at the right season. The growth should take place 

 in the early summer months, and the wood should be ripened 

 carefully in autumn. 



Mr. Morrill believes in planting the largest and most 

 robust trees he can get, and sets them 20 feet apart each 

 way. Each tree should have a certain feeding area, as 

 well as an area to hold moisture, and closely planted 

 trees do not have this. He prunes peach trees during the 

 latter part of March, when the wood is dormant. 



The first season after setting the trees his practice is 

 to grow some crop between. Would not recommend po- 

 tatoes, as they take from the soil too much moisture that 

 is needed by the trees. A late-maturing crop like melons 

 is safer. 



Mr. Morrill firmly believes in thorough thinning of the 

 fruit. Would go so far as to say that the peaches should 

 not be allowed to stand nearer than 8 inches. This work 

 of thinning is done before the pit begins to form. 



The pictures showing the fine, thrifty trees in Mr. 

 Morrill's orchards, and the enormous crops of fruit they 

 have borne, were a matter of surprise and delight to all 

 present. 



