16 BULLETIN 29, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



these reasons the experienced growers regard 5 miles as the longest 

 distance peaches should be hauled. 



LIFE PERIOD OF PEACH ORCHARDS. 



The peach tree normally has a short life and because of this and 

 of the ravages of the yellows and the peach borer, the average life 

 of a peach orchard is comparatively short. While apple trees 12 to 

 14 years old are coming into their most profitable bearing stage, peach 

 trees have about ended their profitable existence in this particular 

 district. 



One orchard of about 30,000 trees in this section when 13 years 

 old bore 50,000 baskets of marketable peaches and netted the owner 

 about $18,000. The next year it yielded about 13,000 baskets, 

 selling for about $10,000 and lacked about $6,000 of paying expenses. 

 If it were not for the fact that many of these trees are fillers in an 

 apple orchard it would probably not pay to risk cultivating it any 

 longer. The owners of this orchard are expecting two more crops. 

 However, the yield would need to be over 20,000 baskets in order to 

 pay operating expenses. This is a critical period and calls for keen 

 judgment on the part of the manager to determine what to do. 



Some are experimenting on renewing the head of the tree, a method 

 popularly known as " dehorning." Sometimes the entire head of 

 the old tree is removed and a new head permitted to grow in one year. 

 Unless the tree has been injured by freezing it is generally thought 

 better to cut the trees back gradually. This method promises good 

 results in renewing the vigor of the tree and prolonging its profitable 

 existence. The chert lands promise larger }delds and a longer life 

 for peach orchards, but there are not sufficient data upon which to 

 base safe conclusions. 



Orchards are more skillfully handled now than formerly, owing to 

 the more general application of scientific knowledge of diseases and 

 insect pests, as well as to recent discoveries along this line, so that 

 the chances in the future are in favor of prolonging the productive 

 life of the trees. Most orchardists know the first symptoms of yel- 

 lows and remove the tree immediately when such symptoms appear. 

 The State inspectors of orchards have done good service along this 

 line by requiring diseased trees to be destroyed. 



It may be safe now to count on 12 to 14 years as the period of 

 profitable existence of a peach orchard in this district, as stated 

 above. The fifth year is generally regarded as the average time when 

 a profitable crop may be expected; however, some orchards have 

 borne profitable crops the fourth year. Thus, a bearing period of 

 8 years may be expected and on the basis of past experience should 

 yield an average of from 10 to 12 baskets of peaches per tree during 

 the period. 



