THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 20 
134 
CUTTING BACK PEACH TREES. 
One of our readers in Illinois says that 
the severe cold has evidently killed his 
peach crop. He wishes to head back his 
four-year-old trees severely, and thinks 
this would be a good time for doing it. Not 
being thoroughly experienced in peach 
growing he wants to know just how these 
trees ought to be cut back. How much 
should he cut them, and what general sys¬ 
tem should he follow in doing the work? 
When peach trees have passed the 
Winter safely and are full of live buds 
they should be cut back each Spring 
from one-half to two-thirds of the new 
growth. When the fruit buds have been 
killed take advantage of the opportunity 
and cut back the main limbs very se¬ 
verely, bringing the tree into shape. 
They can even be cut back to two and 
three-year-old wood without injury, but 
be certain before you do this severe cut¬ 
ting back that there are no live buds, 
for the peach sets such an abundant 
quantity of fruit buds that if a small 
percentage is alive there will be enough 
to produce a paying crop. Always re¬ 
member that the peach never bears on 
old wood, and the limbs are inclined to 
grow long and straggling, so prune so 
as to have the new wood as near the 
main body of the tree as possible. I do 
not like to prune the peach until after 
the heaviest of Winter is past, say after 
the middle of February. In times past 
we considered the peach a short-lived 
tree, but with this annual pruning there 
is no telling to what age it. will live and 
bear. ' h. a. aldricii. 
Illinois. 
Without knowing the form or condi¬ 
tion of the trees it is rather a difficult 
question to handle, but from the present 
condition of my trees I should advise the 
cutting off of two-thirds of last year’s 
growth, and remove all interlocking 
limbs. The shape of the tree would de¬ 
termine me as to the advisability of cut¬ 
ting to an outside or an inside bud. I 
would not advise too great a hurry with 
this pruning. As a matter of course, it 
would be well to curtail the middle of 
the trees and by this means keep a low 
compact head. Many of my trees are 15 
years old, and most of the fruit can be 
picked from the ground. I give a dia¬ 
gram herewith that may be useful to 
show the course of pruning that I shall 
pursue should the fruit buds be killed 
during the present month. Presuming 
that the stem of the tree at the first 
branch was 18 inches from the ground, 
and there was no prospect for a crop of 
peaches I should cut the limbs as mark¬ 
ed and leave the lower branches to nour¬ 
ish the tree this year, and remove the 
two lower limbs next season. This 
method would not be such a shock to 
the tree as if all the limbs were cut 
back. In pruning afterwards I should 
adopt a system of bud pruning for the 
purpose of making and keeping a shape- 
it better not to trim too severely. My 
opinion is that at this writing our peach 
buds are not much injured. Thermom¬ 
eter this morning (February 1) nine be¬ 
low zero, and we have had one morning 
that was two or three degrees colder, 
which was, of course, about the limit, 
but the buds being in good condition at 
the beginning of Winter will help much 
in resisting the cold. <jfx>. j. foster. 
Illinois. 
We had some experien.e in this mat¬ 
ter about five years ago, when our trees 
were severely injured by the extreme 
cold of the Winter. These were young 
bearing trees, and they were cut back 
to mere stubs, leaving no small branches 
at all, as they were practically all kill¬ 
ed. In some cases limbs as large as 
your wrist, or larger, were cut off pretty 
close to the body of the trees. These 
trees threw out new tops, some of them 
makirg very handsome tops, and a cas¬ 
ual observer would scarcely notice that 
they had been cut back so severely. 
These trees have been bearing, and 
would have borne a good crop this year 
had the fruit buds not been winterkilled, 
temperature here having reached 18 to 
20 degrees below zero this Winter. The 
peach tree has wonderful recuperative 
power after being damaged or being 
severely cut back. This cutting back 
should be done in March or April after 
the severe weather is past, and the large 
wounds should be coated with some 
kind of paint to prevent the exposure 
and drying out of the wood cells. 
Indiana. c. m. iiobbs. 
SPRAYING WITH LIME-SULPHUR IN 
CONNECTICUT. 
Connecticut peach growers are having 
great trouble with the San Jos§ scale. The 
following are brief notes of what was said 
at the recent pomological meeting: 
Prof. W. E. Britton said the materials 
should be cheap and effective. I,ime, sul¬ 
phur and salt should not be abandoned for 
anything new until more is known about 
them. He thinks if the sulphur was rubbed 
to a paste it would dissolve quicker and 
need not be boiled but 30 minutes. Twenty 
pounds of lime and 14 of sulphur would be 
cheaper, and 14 of each had been used. He 
has been trying experiments with sulphide 
of potash, caustic soda and sulphide of 
soda; the last would be the cheapest, but 
caustic soda would spread more easily and 
enter the cracks of the bark where the 
scale would lodge, but it is no fungicide. 
Prof. Bennett, of the Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, advised 25 pounds of lime, 20 of sul¬ 
phur and 15 of salt; he had no trouble to 
dissolve all of the sulphur when put in to¬ 
gether. Corrosive sublimate had been used 
and had been effective. Thos. Wild, of 
Berlin, Mich., was authority for this. J. N. 
Barnes used 25 pounds of lime, 20 pounds 
of sulphur and 15 pounds of salt; cost per 
tree, 10 to 11 cents; total cost, $115, which 
did not include the outfit, but did include 
the depreciation of the same. It acted as 
a fungicide, kept the trees clean and 
healthy, and the fruit was much better j 
than where it was unsprayed. This in a 
general way covers the substance of their 
talks, but they emphasized the fact that 
the fight must be kept up. d. f. 
Teacher: “Johnnie, I told you to come 
prepared for this examination.’’ John¬ 
nie (aside): “I did come prepared! I 
got a jograpliy in de seat of me pants!” 
—New York Journal. 
ly tree. There might be variations to 
the above methods, but a person with 
an average amount of common sense 
would know what to do after diagnosing 
the tree. wm. jackson. 
Illinois. 
I find it a good general rule to thin 
out all poor, ill-shaped or worthless 
branches, and then shorten in the main 
shoots or branches half the length of 
growth made last season. If it is de¬ 
sired to cut back severely four-fifths 
of the wood made last season may be 
taken off, but do not take it all off, be¬ 
cause the two-year wood is slow in 
starting new shoots in Spring, and it 
should be remembered that very severe 
pruning will induce very strong growth, 
possibly continued late in the season, 
and therefore will be insufficiently 
ripened to withstand the cold of the 
coming Winter. Hence, where we have 
to contend with severe Winters, I think 
TREES 
and PLANTS at Wholesale Prices. 
Cat. Free. Reliance Nursery, Geneva,N.Y 
Compressed-Air Spraying 
Apparatus 
200,000 FINE PEACH TREES 
The genuine Delaware-grown PeachTrees,which can¬ 
not be excelled. No better anywhere. Bestassorted 
varieties, in large or small quantity. Seed us your 
list and we will show you our very low prices. Ad¬ 
dress THE DELAWARE NURSERIES, Milford, Del. 
NECESSITIES 
THE ORCHARD 
SPRAYING SPAR 
WHALE-OIL SOAP Chemicals for Spraying, Etc. 
Our catalogue will interest you. 
W, He OWEN, Port Clinton, Ohio 
SAN JOSE SCALE 
EASILY CONTROLLED 
OUR COMPRESSED-AIR SPRAYER has a 
record of 20 acres a day with one man in orchard. 
No pump, light weight, nothing to break or wear out. 
NOZZLES NEVER CLOG 
PIERCE-LOOP SPRA YER CO.. North East, Pa 
(Make the Farm Pay 
t / //jtu There’# money In * 
\ ittP farming If you under- 
AV 1 -^ stand modern methods 
\ &nd farm inteligently as 
) taught by our correspond- 
** JZ n A cat-e course in 
\ "sti TV A Modern 
Agriculture. 
V\v Y Jt Id } Under Prof. Wm. P. 
V W-* Brooks, l’h. D., of 
Mass. Agricultural College. Treats of soils, tillage, 
drainage.fertilizers.crop rotation, st ock-feeding.poultry- 
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Full Commercial, Normal ana Academic deJJ 
partrnents. Tuition nominal. Text books free to our It 
students. Catalogue and_partlculars free. Write to-day.If 
THE HOME CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL, Vs 
— Dent. 18, Springfield, Mass, 
nmnw Ask for our 22nd Annual Catalogue. 
□ ERR 1 CLIMAX, the wonderful new ^.arly 
* Strawberry, with many other kinds 
PI ANTQ fully described. Good varieties as low 
i kHli 14 as?1.50M. Slay maker & Son, Dover, Del. 
Q&m Q | Strawberry Offer 
ill | For one dollar I will send 
wf * and prepay these choice 
varieties: 12 Climax, 12 
gjfViEarly Hathaway. 12 Challenge, 
■ ‘'43L--M 12 Lyon. Select plants. 1 grow 
i . y_-~y :straw berriesexcluslvely and they 
load the world. Beautiful lilus- 
/^rksarP ® trated Strawberry Catalog Free. 
_W. F, Allen, Salisbury, Md. 
Peach Trees 
Beautiful, straight, smooth, bright Peach 
Trees of all the good old and choice new 
varieties, warranted clean and healthy, 
at $3 per 100 . 
HEADQUARTERS FOR 
President Plants y 
The most profitable variety now in 
cultivation. Write to the originator 
THOMAS R. HUNT for circular 
Lambertville, N.J. and prices. 
PECAN TREES AND NUTS seedlingtrecR. (1,Sand 
8 years old.) THK 0. H. BACON PECAN CO., (Ine.) Dewitt, Or. 
SAVE MONEY ON 
FRUIT PLANTS 
Strawberry Plants, $1.75 and up 
Raspberry, Blackberry, Currant and 
Orape Plants, etc. at lowest prices. 
Seed Potatoes, $2.25 to $3 Bbl. 
Every tli*ng guarateed first-class 
and true to name 
Free Catalogue tells more. Send postal to 
0. A. E. BALDWIN, 2* Bridgman, Mich. 
THE CHARLTON GRAPE. 
Has been awarded Gold and Silver Medals 
and Bronze Medals and Certificates of Merit. 
The Highest-Flavored Hardy American Grape 
Superb in quality, equals foreign grapes. Those 
interested send for descriptive catalogue 
John Charlton & Sons, Rochester, N.Y. 
Also Fruit and Ornamental Trees 
and Small Fruit Plants 
of all varieties worth growing. Cata¬ 
logue of 52 pages, giving descrip.ions and 
full details, for the asking. 
J . T. Lovett, Little Silver, 
New Jersey . 
ij’uil line. Hardy, Healthy, .Northern Grown. 
Free From I>Ueafie. Price* Low. Catalog Free. 
& e SEED POTATOES 
GROVER NURSERY CO • 1 ^ Kochc.ter,N Y 
Peach Trees 1 yr. from bud 2 to 4c. Sample 2 to 3 ft, 
by mail oi larger sizes by express 25c. Also Plum, 
Apples, Pear, etc. K. 8 . Johnston,Box 4, Stockley,I)el' 
Winter Banana Apple . • and Finest Apple. 
Fairfield Strawberry ... KBerry 1 : Good ’ 
Stevens’ Late Champion • Profitable Berry. 
Circulars Free. West Jersey Nursery, Bridgeton,N.J. 
TREES OF LIFE 
and Fruits of Perfection are obtained by planting 
our Pedigree Grown Nursery Stock, Apple, Peach, 
P»ar and Plum Trees, and all other leading fruits. 
1 .ices and terms unequalled. Write to-day for cata- 
and read our special offers. 
Riverside Nursery Co., Confluence, Penna. 
Hardy Flowers and Ferns 
A collection of 15 varieties of hardy plants for $1.00, 
if you mention this paper. 700 varieties of Dahlias, 
10c to $5 each. Sena for catalogue. NORTH SHORE 
FERNERIES.. Growers & Importers, Beverly, Mass. 
If you cannot secure from your Seedsman, 
GROFFS HYBRID GLADIOLI 
[GENUINE] 
in their several sections, write me and I will mailmy 
1004 illustrated catalogue in which 1 offer tho high¬ 
est quality which can be secured in the world at 
prices which are much below the value furnished 
ARTHUR COWEE, gladiolus specialist, 
Meadowvalo Farm, Berlin, N. Y. 
40 Pianfs for only $ 
Prepaid. 12 Echo and 12 Brandywine Strawberry, 6 
Wood’s Cuthbert Raspberry, 4 Erie Blackberry, 3 Fay’s Currant, 1 
Pearl Gooseberry, 1 Concord and 1 Niagara Grape. Well rooted strong 
fruiters. Ask for drcularof 11 other special bargains, also catalog, free. 
Alien L. Wood, Wholesale Grower, Rochester, N. Y. 
BEST PLANTS 
at the lowest possible prices. Bestnewand standard 
Strawberries, ltaspberrles nd Blackberries. Heavy 
Rooted. True to name. Satisfaction guaranteed. 
Catalogue free. 
A. R. WESTON & Co., li. F. D. No, 10. Bridgman, Mich. 
PCUM nc WET NEW JERSEY SEED' 
Util L UL VVLIj LING STRAWBERRY. 
The best one on your farm to-day”; statement bj 
Fred. Tuezner, of Red Bank,N. J., June, 1903. Ournew 
catalogue Free. Kevltt Plant Farm, Athenia, N. J. 
NEW FRUITS. 
The Regal grape, Comet currant. Blowers and 
Kenoyer blackberries and the “Beaver” straw¬ 
berry. Send postal for catalogue. 
M. Crawford Co., Box 1005, Cuyahoga Falls, O 
CHOICE ST It A W It Eli It T EE ANTS. 
500.000 Climax, $2 perM; all other leading varieties 
Wjite for prices JOHN W. GREEN. Bridgeville.Del 
100,000 Apple, 200,000 Peach, 
SOM. SOUR CHERRY. Low Prices. Catalogue. 
WOODVIKW NURSERIES, B. 2, Mt. Holly Springs,Pa 
CLIMAX—The Strawberry 
We were the Introducers of this wonderful new berry last season. 
Send card for Free Catalogue telling you all about CLIMAX and 
price list of 60 other varieties. 881.00—For one dollar we will mail 
you, prepaid, these choice new varieties—13 Climax, 13 Auto, 
13 Louis iluhach and 13 Early Hataway. 
THE STRAWBERRY PLANT 
IS OUK SPECIALTY 
THE DELAWARE PLANT FARMS 'ioT CORDREY BROS., Laurel, Del y ADDRESS 
Wonder 
CLIMAX* 
and big types of Seckel ; Powell, Montmorency and 
Windsor Cherries, and other leading varieties of fruit 
trees, bred from famous bearing orchards. Our new 
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THE TREK BREEDERS ROGERS ON THE HILL, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 
BOSC, BARTLETT 
ROOTS FOR SALE. No rust. 
Good roots.one and two years old. 
Healthy, thrifty .Will please you. 
Price low. Trees, plants, vines. Catalogue free. ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Burlington Co., Moorestown, N.J. 
SIX VARIETIES OF ASPARAGUS 
HARRISON’S 
THE APPLE is always first. We 
lead al 1 growers in quality ofstock. 
Summer, fall and winter 
well rooted, healthy, strong 
ers, over one hundred varieties. 
CONCORD CRAPES never go 
cut. Stock large and exceedingly 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, 
FRUITS- 
fine. Moore’s Early and all the 
other choice sorts. We are strong 
on the great ELBERTA PEACH 
None more delicious or prolific. 
Beautiful golden yellow. A fine 
market sorts. All the other good va¬ 
rieties. Ask for 1904 free catalogue. 
BOX 29. BERLIN, MARYLAND. 
/■> A f* STARK GRAPE NURSERIES are In the heart of the famous Chautauqua 
B Y rC r"V Grape Belt, which produces the finest vines grown in the U. S. We have 
m M an immense stock of all leading sorts; quality perfect; prices low as those ol 
«■ , m b w ~ any reputable grower. Send us your orders—one vine or a car load. A com- 
\r I r-* Vi plete line of fruit trees, small CT ADI/’ DDA>C PORTLAND, N. Y. 
▼ 11 T fruits, etc. Price List free. I /VlYIV DKU O 
fruits, etc. Price List free. 
Louisiana, Mo. 
“SUCCESS” PEACH “WARO”BLACKBERRY 
Best Early Peach Yet Introduced, also 
of all other varieties. Finest and best grown stock 
In the country. Address 
and All Kinds of Nursery Stock 
offered at lowest prices direct to the planter. Cer¬ 
tificates of inspection and fumigation accompany 
every shipment. Address 
SON c*3 CO., 
3Xr;E'W JIEJIO.lSJEl'S’ 
