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HARRISON'S NURSERIES, BERLIN, MD. 



THE PEACH 



Kans., March 14th, 1900. 

 Messrs. J. G. Harrison & Sons. 



Gentlempn:— I am sending- a small 

 order for k few trees and plants, as I 

 want to reset some peaches that were 

 killed from the extreme cold weather . 

 of 1899. Out of 100 I got of you I only 

 lost six trees; that was not bad for June 

 buds. I am well pleased with the 

 peach trees and strawberry plants T got ■ 

 of you two years ago. The strawberries 

 done exceedingly well. The variety . 

 was Wm. Belt, and Glen Mary. I don't 

 think the Glen Mary will rust in this 

 part of the country, I saw no signs of 

 rust this season. Truly yours, 



Wm. K. Thomas. 



The man who is afraid to run the risk < 

 of planting either trees or plants has a ) 

 small chance in the fruit business. < 



In the peach excellence and beauty is combined, and if given the atten- 

 tion due it, th^re is no tree that will give more delicious fruit. To the person 

 who has tasted the luscious fruit, no words of praise are needed to make him 

 appreciate the value of same. 



There is no fruit tree that can make as quick a return as the peach. 

 Give it reasonable attention and in three years from planting a fair crop may 

 be gathered, a few the second year, and the receipts from a good orchard are 

 something of importance. Sometimes it overloads its branches with fruit 

 requiring props or. far better for the OAvner who has the courage, to thin the 

 fruit and gain better peaches both in size and color, for which he will receive 

 ajmich^betterpjice than^the large quajitity of small inferior ones. 



Peaches will succeed on a great variety of soils. 

 " Worn-out" land and poor sandy soils that would re- 

 quire years of careful handling to produce a good, 

 crop of grain, can be readily utilized for peach land, 

 and is preferred to land that is stronger. Improve 

 the land after the trees are set. 



Starting with such land, I would proceed by 

 first plowing and pulverizing, then dig holes large 

 enough to accommodate the roots. Use the soil to 

 cover the roots and tread firmly with the foot. 

 Leave three or four inches of the hole to be filled 

 with well rotted manure or compost (it it contains 

 wood ashes all the better,) then cover with any soiL 

 This will be enough fertilizer for the first year. 

 Good cultivation must follow or failure will result. 

 For two or three years the land can be culti- 

 vated with other crops, adding fertilizer to make 

 them. After the first year broadcast and cultivate 

 in plenty of good wood ashes or muriate of potash, 

 and phosphoric acid. 

 Seed with crimson clover the third year in 7th 

 month, turn under the next 5th month and culti- 

 vate. Repeat this for several years and note the 

 result. If growth of wood and foliage get too strong, 

 stop fertilizing and cultivate only. 



On rich land that will produce 50 to 75 bushels 

 of corn, I wouM use no manure around the tree, but some potash, perhaps. If cropping between 

 the trees would use fertilizer to make that crop, but would watch the trees closely, and if I 

 found them hungry, would feed with phosphoric acid and potash in the shape of muriate or 

 kainit. 



Always bear in mind that over-stimulated peach trees will be sensitive to low tempera- 

 ture, fruit will be poor in color and more subject to fungus diseases. Avoid cold, wet, low land. 

 Whether planted in fall or spring, prune just about the time the tree starts growth. 

 Prune to a switch, leaving no laterals as the tree will make all it needs. 



Much might be said about the fruit and marketing, but this would require a volume. The 

 most important point is not to allow a tree to overbear. Never prop a limh to prevent breaking^ 

 but thin the fruit. This will make better fruit and longer lived trees. 



Fruit should be graded and culls utilized without sending to market, unless when very 

 scarce. Plant good trees in good land and success is only a matter of time. 



JUNE BUDDED PEACH TKEES. 



They are grown from natural Tennessee peach seed and on land 

 that has never grown peach trees, and they are clean and healthy. 



A June budded tree is one that is budded in June, the same sea- 

 son it sprouts from the seed. After being budded it is cut back and 

 makes a growth from July 1st to frost, the roots only being one year's 

 growth and the bud about 90 days' growth, this gives us a well develop- 

 ed tree with lots of fibrous roots. When taken up the fibers all come 

 up and you get the entire roots and tap root not cut. It, is of great 

 importance to have the tap root. There are orchards we sold four 

 years ago, June budded trees that bore a heavy crop the past season- 

 The customers will not plant anything but June buds again. 

 A June budded peach 

 tree 3 years old fruiting 

 Standard apples 30 feet each way- 

 Standard pears and strong growing cherries ...20 " " *' 



Standard plums, apricots, peaches, Nectarines 34 to 18 " " " 



Dwarf pears .10 to 13 " " " 



Grapes rows 10 to 16 feet apart 7 to 16 feet in rows. 



Raspberries and blackberries... .3 to 4 by 5 to 7 feet apart. 



Strawberries, for field culture 1 to 4>^ by 3 to 3>^ feet apart. 



Strawberries, for garden culture 1 to 2 feet apart. 



NUMBER OF TREES TO AN A€RE. 



30 feet apart eaxjh way. 50 I 10 feet apart each way 435 



DISTANCE FOR PLANTING. 



70 



110 



135 



205 



.300 



684 

 1,210 

 .1,7.42 



.2,72:5 

 .4,840 



KTJL,E— Multiply the distance in feet between the rows by the distance the plants are 

 apart in the rows, and the product will be the number of square feet for each plant or hill, 

 which, divided into the number of feet in an acre, 43,560, will give the number of trees in an acre. 



