168 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



rich and sweet yellowish flesh ; clingstone ; ripens middle 



of September. 



PEACH. 



The Peach prefers the light, dry, and warm soils, 

 known as sandy loams. The tree is shortlived in most 

 sections, and attains its best fruiting condition usually 

 when from five to nine years old. The tree is greatly 

 benefitted by pruning ; the growth of the previous sea- 

 son should be shortened about one-third ; this, if annually 

 followed from the time the trees are set, will give them 

 compact heads instead of open, straggling ones, the 

 branches of which will break down with the first full 

 crop of fruit. In the peach-growing districts the culti- 

 vators do not expect more than three crops in five years, 

 and if they get two full crops in that time they are con- 

 tent, and amateurs should expect no more. "When a crop 

 sets at all there is usually more fruit than the tree can 

 carry and ripen ; no fruit needs severe thinning more 

 than the peach. In bearing seasons half or two-thirds of 

 those which set may be removed with benefit to the rest. 

 When a tree appears sickly with yellow foliage, dig it up 

 at once. The distance apart may be from eight to ten 

 feet. Among the favorite varieties for garden culture 

 may be named 



Early Beatrice. — One of Mr. Eivers' seedlings, and so 

 far as tried in this country promises to be a valuable 

 early sort ; its size is small, but quality good ; freestone. 



Ifdhh Early. — A very early peach, of fair size and 

 great beauty, but has the fault that it in some localities 

 rots just as it begins to ripen, a difficulty probably due to 

 overbearing rather than to locality ; freestone, excellent. 



Columbia. — Large, round, color yellow and red, 

 streaked with dark-crimson ; flesh yellow, rich, and juicy, 

 flavor excellent ; freestone ; ripens in September. 



