The Canadian Horticulturist. 177 



PEACH GROWING. 



The varieties selected must be largely determined by the locality in which 

 they are to be grown, as some varieties thrive better in some localities than 

 others. If convenient to market, in many cases the earlier varieties are the most 

 profitable, provided, of course, they are of good quality, but with peaches, as 

 with almost every other variety of fruit, if an extra fine quality is grown, there is 

 no difficulty in selling at a good price. When grown more especially for home 

 consumption, select of varieties that will give a supply through the longest season. 

 Peaches are particularly a fresh fruit, and are best in season, and little or no 

 effort is usually made to keep them any longer. 



Peaches need a reasonably loose soil, and will not thrive if growing in sod 

 for any considerable length of time. The soil should be prepared in a good 

 tilth by plowing and harrowing. Peaches are so often injured by severe cold, 

 freezing weather, that in a majority of cases spring planting is preferable to fall, 

 but it is an item to make all the preparation possible in advance so that at the 

 first favorable opportunity in the spring the planting can be done. 



The holes for the trees can be dug after the soil is properly prepared. 

 These should be at least three feet square, so as to give plenty of room to the 

 roots. In setting out, as with all trees, it will be best to cut out all injured roots, 

 and then in setting out see that they are spread out evenly and naturally — as 

 much as in the same position as they originally grew as possible. 



Have the soil fine and see that it is filled well in among the roots. This 

 is very important in the spring setting. And one advantage in early setting is 

 that a much better opportunity is afforded for the soil to get well settled around 

 the roots before hot, dry weather sets in. 



With peaches, nearly or quite all of the pruning should be done in the 

 spring. There is so much risk of the new growth being killed, and, of course, 

 will need to be cut out in the spring, that it is best to defer pruning until reason- 

 ably early in the spring. The peach needs severe pruning annually — from one- 

 third to one-half of the new growth should be cut out. This will aid materially 

 in securing a better quality of fruit. 



Wood or coal ashes, old lines or old leather are good materials to use as 

 fertilizers, and these can always be applied with benefit. The soap suds on 

 wash days, too, are good ; in fact, anything that contains potash and phosphoric 

 acid are good to use with this fruit. In pruning, the trees should be headed low. 

 Sufficient cultivation should be given to keep the soil reasonably clean and in 

 good tilth. — Farm Life. 



For the plum curculioand shot-hole fungus use Bordeaux mixture and Paris 

 green combined, making three or four applications. 

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