Peach - Culture. iJ3 



in some localities (and the same may be true now to a limited extent) great 

 quantities were dried, distilled for peach-brandy, or even fed to the pigs. 

 The chief reason why such a disposition was made of the fruit was, that it 

 cost too much to get it to market ; or that the market was so far distant, 

 and the facilities so poor for transporting it, that it was no object to dispose 

 of it in that way, however fine it might be. There are many ways in which 

 the fruit may be used ; but the most profitable one, no doubt, is to send it 

 directly from the tree to some large city or town for immediate consumf*- 

 tion. It will be freely admitted by those conversant with the subject, that 

 it is much more difficult in some parts of the country to raise this and other 

 fruits now than in former years. The virgin soil just reclaimed from the 

 forest seemed to be very favorable, not only to the growth but the produc- 

 tiveness of fruit-trees of all kinds. The extensive forests were a protec- 

 tion and shelter for the fruit-trees ; while these same forests caused an 

 abundance of rain in summer, and snow in winter. The snow served an 

 excellent purpose, covering the ground all winter; while the weather was 

 steady, and not subject to such great and sudden changes as frequently 

 occur in these latter days. It is said that the fruit-buds of the peach will 

 be killed when the mercury goes down to ten or twelve degrees below zero ; 

 md this is true of the present time : but we are informed by close observ- 

 ers who can remember back sixty or seventy years, that though the weather 

 was often very cold, yet the peach seldom failed. It cannot be expected 

 that the colder and more northern parts of the country will produce this 

 fruit with the highest success (that privilege is reserved for those who live 

 in a more congenial climate); but this should not prevent the lover of 

 peaches from planting trees, — the best, hardiest, and healthiest that can be 

 procured, even on the cold hillsides of New England, or, better, in the pro- 

 tected garden, — for they will get a fair crop certainly as often as two years 

 in four. In all the Northern States, peach-trees must be grown \»ith greater 

 care than in a more congenial climate. The system adopted should be 

 such as will insure perfectly well-ripened wood ; and, to secure this desiia- 

 ble object, the tree should be treated in a similar manner with the cherry, 

 using only so much manure as will give a medium growth of new wood. 

 In those States where there is no danger of injury from the v/inter, a larger 

 growth may be encouraged without much danger to the tree. One of the 



