LESSON XXXVIII 

 STONE FRUITS 



THE peach, cherry, plum, and apricot are called 

 stone fruits because the seeds are inclosed in stonelike 

 hulls. 



Peaches are grown in all parts of the United States, 

 but the commercial growing of peaches is mainly con- 

 fined to the regions which are comparatively free from 

 late spring frosts. Large quantities are grown in the 

 Southern and Pacific states. On the east and south 

 shores of the Great Lakes, where the presence of water 

 prevents extreme changes of temperature, great crops 

 of peaches are produced. 



Location of orchards. Peaches do best in well- 

 drained sandy loams. The orchards should be placed 

 on high ground from which cold air will drain off to 

 lower ground. Killing frosts are more likely to occur 

 on low ground than on neighboring hills and slopes, 

 for the cold air, like water, will flow down the slopes 

 and settle in low places. 



A northern slope is considered better than a southern 

 slope, for on the northern slope, which is turned away 

 from the sun, the opening of the buds is delayed until 



the danger of frost is past. 



171 



