STONE FRUITS 



475 



Planting. — Spring planting will be found most generally successful, 

 particularly in those sections subject to variable winter climates. On the 

 other hand, where soil conditions are ideal (soil well prepared and well 

 drained both on the surface and beneath), planting in the autumn will 

 give excellent results. A serious difficulty, of course, is getting the nursery 

 stock in time to plant in the autumn and still have it well matured before 

 it is dug by the nurseryman. 



Peach trees are set all the way from 13 to 20 feet apart. A good aver- 

 age distance is 18 feet. The type of land and the variety will determine 

 the best distance. 



Plums can, on the average, be set closer than peaches, because they 

 are more upright growing trees, but such sprawling growing varieties as 

 Burbank will need fully as much room as any peach. 



Sour cherries average about the same as plums, and sweet cherries 

 somewhat larger. 



In pruning the trees at setting there are two general methods used: 

 In the case of one-year trees, they are simply cut back to the desired 

 height, which varies with different growers from 6 to 30 inches, on the 

 average perhaps 24 inches. With two-year trees, the head being already 

 established, it is necessary to cut back the main branches rather severely. 

 Generally from one-third to tw T o-thirds of the last year's wood is removed. 



Soil Management.— Stone fruits rarely succeed well in sod. Peaches 

 practically never do, and cherries very seldom. Plums can be grown in 

 sod, but are usually much better under cultivation. There is much less 

 chance for discussion as to the relative merits of sod and cultivation in 

 the stone fruits than with apples and pears. An additional reason for 

 cultivating peaches is the fact that borers are much more troublesome 

 where grass and weeds are left about the trees. 



If the orchard is to be cultivated, the season's campaign would be to 

 plow it as early in the spring as possible, and for this work nothing is more 



