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LETTER SEVENTH. 



ON THE PEACH, NECTARINE, APRICOT, AND QUINCE. 



THE PEACH. 



The greater part of Canada is unsuitable for 

 the open air culture of the Peach, but along the 

 borders of our lakes and rivers, say from below 

 Toronto to near Goderich, in suitable soils and 

 localities, it can be brought to perfection; and 

 in sceral places in the more Southern parts of 

 the country, it could be grown as a profitable 

 crop for the market. 



The tree requires a warm, dry soil. A rich 

 sandy loam with a porous subsoil is the best, and 

 next a good mellow loam ; though a rich clay 

 loam properly underdrained (which is essen- 

 tial to the peach culture in Canada) is con- 

 ducive to greater longevity of the tree ; and on 

 this soil, though the fruit is not so large, it is 

 much higher flavored and more juicy. In a 

 light, sandy soil the tree bears young and plen- 

 tifully, but is very short-lived. If the soil is 

 naturally rich it does not require higli manur- 

 ing, but in poor soil it should have au annual 

 toivdressing of manure late in fall. 



In orchard-planting the trees coald bi plant- 

 ed at 15 feet apart each way; but 12 feot dis- 

 tance will be found sufficient if proper atten- 

 tion is paid to pruning, which merely consists 

 in shortening in each spring all the previous 

 year's shoots or young wood, to the extent of 

 from one-third to one-half, according to the 

 vigor of the tree, and cutting out any small, 

 weak growth in the centre of the tree. As the 

 Peach in favorable seasons is apt to greatly 

 overbear, causing the fruit to be small and in- 

 sipid, and greatly injuring the tree unless the 

 fruit is severely thinned out, the shortening 

 in system of pruning by reducing the crop fully 

 a third, saves all the evil effects of overbearing, 

 keeps the tree more healthy and within bounds, 

 while the fruit is much larger and finer flavored. 



For planting, trees should not be more than 

 one, or at most two years old, and should be 

 well cut back to about two and a half feet 

 from the ground. Plenty of young shoots 

 will spring, of which, only the three best situ- 

 ated should be left to form the head of the tree, 

 which should be cut back the following spring 

 as above directed. While the trees are young, 

 hoed crops may be cultivated, taking care to 

 leave gufficient space round each tree free from 



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cheek ; 



crop. As soon as they begin to bear, no other 

 crop should be taken from the ground, which 

 should be kept mellow by regular ploughing, 

 harrowing, and cultivation, so as to keep it free 

 from weeds and grass, which injure the trees 

 more than regular cropping, and this remark 

 will hold good with all young orchards. 



When the trees get stunted from any 

 cause, such as overbearing, lack of pruning or 

 manuring, so that the young wood is too weak 

 to bear good fruit, a good top-dressing of ma- 

 nure should be applied in fall, and early in the 

 following spring all the main branches should 

 be cut back, which will cause ii vigorous growth 

 of young wood, renewing the tree, and ena- 

 bling it to bear abundance of fine fruit. 



The following is a list of the varieties that I 

 would recommend for open air culture : — For the 

 orchard-house, the slower-growing, high-flavored 

 varieties arebest ; as, thougli many varieties, 

 such as Early Crawford, produce beautiful, 

 large fruit under glass, they are in general in- 

 sipid, and greatly inferior to those grown in 

 open air. 



The serrated-leaved peaches are liable to mil- 

 dew of the leaves in open-air culture. The 

 Early York and Rosebank are the least subject 

 to it Wthis class. Under glass the mildew does 

 not affect them, or can be easily cured. Those 

 with globose or reuiform glands at the base of 

 the leaves are more vigorous growers, and more 

 suitable for open-air culture, not being subject 

 to mildew. 



PALE-FLESHBD PBACHES. 



Ilaile's Early. — The earliest large Peach, a 

 new variety of great excellence ; strong, ro- 

 bust grower. All the other earliest peaches have 

 generally serrated leaves, and are subject to 

 mildew, which this is not. August; flowers 

 small ; leaves with globose glands. 



Early York. — The earliest good Peach ; me- 

 dium-sized frui^ ; pale, yellov Mte, nearly 

 covered with pale-red dots ; red in the 

 sun; very tender, melting, ru and juicy; 

 leaves serrated without glands ; flowers large. 

 August. 



Walters Early. — Large, ripening shortly after 

 Early York ; skin white with a beautiful red 

 melting, juiey, and excellent ; tree 



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