28 PWYEE'S GUIDE. 



it is more prevalent and detrimental on trees > j;rosvn under unfavorable 

 co'nditions and on worn out or run down land. In its early stages of de- 

 velopment it can be often eradicated with prompt efficacious spraying, 

 severe pruning out and heading back of fully one-half of the whole 

 tree. The removed parts thus affected should, of course, be burned at 

 once. However, in the great majority ot cases, especially where the dis- 

 ease has made any considerable headway, it is best and safest to at once 

 dig up the tree and burn it both root and branch. This will 

 be the surest way to guard against contaminating your other trees. 

 It is not difficult or expensive work to cope successfully with the yellows, 

 and no one should be hindered or discouraged in planting Peach trees 

 on account of fear or expectation of this possible and somewhat more or 

 less provoking annoyance. Where Peaches are grown for family use, it 

 is desirable to plant a few trees each year — from four to twelve trees, 

 depending on the size of the family and the quantities needed for table 

 use and for canning. This is the safest and best method to pursue in 

 order to secure a supply each fruiting season. 



When setting out the young trees, be sure to cut off all side limbs 

 and also cut tne top off, not leaving the top or stem over 2% 

 feet high; trim each year the main shoots oft one-third ot the last sea- 

 son's growth. This should be done the last of March, and for three or 

 four years until the tree has become quite large, when the severe prun- 

 ing should be stopped. Prune light after this period, removing all super- 

 fluous small and sickly branches. We must never lose sight of the fact 

 that the fruit is produced on the previous season's growth; therefore it 

 is of absolute necessity to keep up a good supply of vigorous new 

 shoots over the entire tree. Spraying is of the first importance and is es- 

 sential for best results. We advise the Bordeaux Formula as de- 

 scribed in the beginning of this book. When the trees are overbearing 

 the fruit should be thinned out when about one-quarter grown. As 

 heretofore explained, the individual samples of fruit should be five to six 

 inches apart on the tree. We know that to the inexperienced this will 

 sound like radical treatment, in fact a waste of fruit. The fact remains, 

 however, tnat you can get more bulk of fruit when matured from two 

 hundred and fiftj- Peaches on a tree than from seven hundred and fifty — 

 besides the lesser number of choice large Peaches will bring you five 

 times the amount of money, and there is always a demand for fine fruit, 

 while at times when the market is over supplied, it is difficult to dispose 

 of small inferior fruit, and when it can be sold the prices are low, unsat- 

 isfactor;' and at times unprofitable. If we seem to enlarge immeasurably 

 on this subject, it is for the purpose of trying to impress all with the ad- 

 visability of leaving nothing undone to produce the choicest fruit, and of 

 course thinning is a necessary requirement to this end. 



VARIETIES OF PEACHES. 



There is an almost endless assortment of 

 Peaches; our aim is to reduce the list as far as pos- 

 sible to cover the entire season for fruit and make 

 what we consider the best selection for commercial 

 orcharding as well as for the home requirements. 

 When the individual variety is suitable for both 

 purposes it will be so stated; when especially de- 

 sirable for market use or for the private garden 

 this characteristic will be accordingly mentioned. 

 Then what is perhaps of great importance and 

 value, we will name the kinds that have proven themselves particularly 



