1007. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
837 
PRUNING SOUTHERN PEACH TREES. 
We have a reader in Florida who asks 
ns this question about two-year-old peach 
trees. If he should prune them back well 
this Winter, say one-third to one-half of 
this year's growth, would such pruning 
cause these trees to shed their fruit next 
season, and in place of growing a crop of 
fruit put on more wood growth than would 
he the case if they were not cut back so 
much ? 
We have found it best to prune very 
close the first two years, while transplant¬ 
ing and the year following, thus forcing a 
heavy growth, and establish thereby a 
good foundation for the future tree. As 
the limbs grow up the roots go down. There 
is no good root system, as a rule, when 
there is but a light growth of top. We 
often remove three-quarters of the young 
growth, with many limbs entire, the main 
object at this time being to give the proper 
shape. Thus we get strong bearing wood 
for the third year of the tree's existence, 
and a good crop under favorable condi¬ 
tions is usually the result. Where rot 
prevails, as in the case with us, and where 
St. .Tosd scale does not enter into the 
calculation, we want the tree high enough 
off the ground to give a free circulation 
of air between soil and fruit. This has 
been found with us the best safeguard 
against rot. which is the worst enemy we 
have to contend with, with most of our 
fruits in these parts. 
Texas. j. w. stubenraucit. 
Generally speaking, it will not do to 
prune peach trees quite so heavily in the 
South as in the North, unless the object is 
to renew the heads of the trees entirely. 
The heads of young trees may frequently 
be renewed to advantage if the roots and 
trunks are sound, by cutting back severely, 
leaving the stumps of the old branches not 
more than four to five inches long. The 
amount of pruning, which may be given 
from year to year, will depend upon the 
season, the health and vigor of the trees. 
Some years we get very much more wood 
growth than others. Generally speaking, 
on two-year-old trees, in fair condition, we 
would recommend the removal of about one- 
third of last year’s growth. The amount 
cut off under average circumstances, would 
be a little less rather than more. The fer¬ 
tilizer, likewise, has something to do with 
it, and if properly fertilized, using a lib¬ 
eral amount of potash, more wood can be 
removed, with good chances for a crop fol¬ 
lowing, than if a large amount of am¬ 
monia is used. H. HAROLD HUME. 
For Florida we do very little pruning, 
merely thinning out the trees, and do not 
believe in cutting off one-third to one- 
half the current year's growth. About all 
the pruning a peach tree needs in this sec¬ 
tion is to keep the suckers and water 
sprouts cut off and the tree open to some 
extent. We have over 700 acres in peach 
trees, and do very little pruning at any 
time. We do believe, however, in pinching 
off growing ends iu the Summer during the 
first and second years, so as to keep the 
heads from getting too high and to thicken 
them. THE GRIFFING BROTHERS COMPANY. 
In Florida the most extensive peach 
growers do not practice pruning. If we 
should practice pruning in the Fall, we 
would be sure to cut off all of the best 
fruit buds. That is, the next Spring the 
fruit would set on spurs that were left on 
the trees, and these being the smaller and 
older spurs would give smaller and poorer 
peaches. In Florida we usually get a small 
crop of very handsome peaches on two- 
year-old trees, if the field has been well 
cared for and the climatic conditions have 
not been unusually severe. Our best peach 
growers set out well-matured vigorous trees 
cutting them back to about 2 to 2% feet 
from the ground. These then produce a 
vigorous growth giving a number of 
branches, and causing the tree to branch 
rather low. By the end of the year these 
trees will be large enough, ordinarily, to 
bear a considerable crop. While the crop 
will not be large the fruit will be 
extra handsome. During the second year 
the trees make a vigorous growth, and 
produce a considerable number of fruit 
buds. This second crop is usually one of 
the most profitable the orchard produces, 
the peaches being extra large and extra 
tine, though not so abundant a crop as will 
occur the following year. 
When peach trees are growing too vigor¬ 
ously, the peach grower withholds ferti¬ 
lizers. This causes the trees to make a 
smaller growth, and, of course, likewise, a 
poorer crop of peaches, hut ordinarily the 
peach grower in Florida does very little 
or no pruning as such. lie frequently cuts 
out wood where there is too much of it, 
hut “heading back," or pruning, as prac¬ 
ticed by northern peach growers, is not 
considered good practice in Florida. Good 
results have followed a method that is not 
exactly pruning, nor heading back. When 
the trees have made an unusually vigor¬ 
ous growth late in the season, a consid¬ 
erable space will be found on the long 
shoots that bear neither fruit buds nor 
growth buds; then at the end of these 
sprouts will be found a few fruit buds. In 
the following Spring, these fruits buds at the 
end of the sprouts bloom and set only a 
small crop and inhibit the blossoming of 
the earlier set fruit buds. To avoid reduc¬ 
tion of crops in this way these sprigs are 
cut off just below the part that has set no 
fruit buds. In this way the trees are kept 
more compact, and the crop of fruit pro¬ 
duced on the part that is better able to hold 
it, up without injury to the tree and in less 
danger of being blown off. During years 
when we have a late frost, as occurred in 
the Spring of 1907, at which time the fruit 
buds of the peaches in northern Florida 
were practically all frozen, the peach grow¬ 
ers cut the trees back severely. They did 
Ibis in order that they might secure a largo 
amount of vigorous new wood to produce 
the crop next year.' This, of course, con d 
not be done when one wishes to secure a 
crop of peaches this year. It is quite prob¬ 
able that the orchard of your correspondent 
has made very indifferent or poor growth 
during this year, since for the most part, 
in Florida, the year has been adverse. In 
that case it may prove an advantage to cut 
back, and cause a- considerable amount of 
new growth to be made next year, so that 
an abundant crop may be had in 1909. 
__L\ It. ROLFS. 
Dwarf Apple Trees. 
M. P. IF., Clinton, Toica .—What is your 
opinion of the dwarf apples; that is, o:i 
Paradise and other stocks? Do you know of 
any commercial orchards planted of dwarf 
trees? Given favorable soil, climatic and 
other conditions do you think dwarf trees 
profitable in commercial orchards? What 
stock do you consider best for dwarfs? How 
large do dwarf trees grow under very favor¬ 
able surroundings? 
Ans.—T he cultivation of dwarf apple 
trees has been often tried for many years 
past. I saw them first about HO years ago 
in Ohio, and have seen many since, in one 
case that I remember distinctly in Kansas, 
where there was an orchard of about 100 
trees. While the trees bore reasonably 
well, and the fruit was as large and 
good in quality as on standard trees, 
they were not considered really valuable, 
except as early bearing novelties. Where 
there is but very 'ittie space in which 
to plant, and several varieties are desired, it 
would be well to plant dwarf apple trees, 
but not otherwise, in mv oniuion. Even 
where very early bearing is desired I won d 
prefer standard trees of such varieties as 
will produce good crops at an early age. be¬ 
cause they cost less and will pay equally as 
well or better. The Dougin stock is the best 
one to use, so about everyone who has tried 
It in comparison with the Paradise agrees. 
H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
Rights of Aliens. 
A neighbor threatens to annoy me because 
I hold title to real property as an alien, 
as I have not taken out my citizenship 
papers. He also knows that I took an as¬ 
sumed name when I came to this country. 
What should I do? o. c. 
New York. 
By the laws of New York and nearly all 
States an alien may take title, convey, mort¬ 
gage and sell real property as a citizen. 
The only disability is that an alien can¬ 
not take real property under a will if the 
State objects, but there is seldom any ob¬ 
jection. As to an assumed name, the only 
provision on the matter requires that any 
person or persons or firm doing business 
under an assumed name must file a certifi¬ 
cate of this fact with the county clerk: 
this applies to business men. A person 
may change his name at will if not done 
to mislead his business associates. As a 
matter of fact a large fraction of emigrants 
change their names on reaching this coun¬ 
try. Simple John Doe is to be preferred to 
a row of unspeakable consonants. If you 
have proof of his threats take the case to 
the district attorney on a charge of black¬ 
mail. We strongly urge 3 'ou to become a 
citizen of this country for the sake of your 
children. The fact that you do not become 
naturalized before they are 21 may prevent 
one of them from being elected President 
later. 
Use of Knapsack Sprayer. 
F. A. K., Qazil, IF. Va .—I would like to 
hear from fruit growers who have used the 
knapsack sprayer for fruit trees. I have 
a young orchard just beginning to bear (8 
to 10 feet high) that I would like to spray, 
and the ground is so rough that it is incon¬ 
venient to use a barrel sprayer. 
R. N.-Y.—Some growers continue to 
use the knapsack sprayers (small tanks 
strapped to the shoulder and worked by 
a small pump), hut with the great ma¬ 
jority we think they are out of date. 
We have seen men spraying large trees 
with knapsacks by climbing up into the 
branches. The pump manufacturers 
make low-down outfits which work well 
on rough ground. We would like to 
hear from the knapsackers. 
Some Truths About Roofs 
HAT’S the difference between Carey’s and other 
composition roofings? All the difference in the 
world, Carey’s is made to Wear —as long as the 
building stands. Other composition roofings are made 
to sell —at a wide margin of profit. 
CAREY’S 
Flexible 
Cement 
ROOFING 
is a standard roofing. It is better than any other roofing 
because it contains more real roofing value — a greater 
amount of high-grade, enduring materials. No paper to 
rot, no pitch to melt, no gravel to wash off. 
Carey’s isthe ONLY composition roofing that—(1) Outlasts the building 
it covers: (2) Has an absolutely perfect joint (protected by U. S. patent); 
(3) Will not melt, rot, dry out or lose its life and elasticity: and, 
(4) Will not blow off. 
We are the oyly manufacturers of a ONE STANDARD 
GRADE and UNIFORM QUALITY roofing. The roofing 
tee offer you is precisely the same as that applied to million 
dollar buildings in large cities. Accept no substitute. 
For your own protection, write us for address of nearest dis¬ 
tributing point; also for Free Sample and Descriptive Booklet. 
THE PHILIP CAREY CO.,( Established 1873) 
42 Wayne Avenue, Cincinnati, O. 
OLDS 
ENGINES 
"best by every test” 
U.5.G0VT REPORT. 
Do you want an engine 
We have one you can afford 
to buy. We have been building nothing but engines for 25 years- 
We guarantee the Olds Engines will run properly. The price is right. 
The engine is reliable ; nd simple. We treat you right. There is an 
agent near by to see everything is right and kept so. 
We have a lilu-ral proposition to make to you , besides furnishing you the best 
engine made. 
Let u.s tell you about it. because it will surely interest you. 
We can furnish you our Type A engine, set up on skids if 
desired, 3 to 8 It. p. ready to run when you get it—does not have 
to be set up—no piping to connect, no foundation to build—simply 
fill with gasoline (or distillate) throw on the switch, turn the 
wheel and it goes. 
Easy to start winter or summer. The cheapest of all engines for farm and 
stationary power. lias removable water jacket, all latest improvements, and lias been 
adopted by the United States Government. 
Send for our cat alog of 3 to 50 it. p. engines, and be sure you take advantage of our 
proposition and save money. 
OLDS GAS POWER CO., 
Binghamton, N. Y.—23 Washington St. 
Main Office— 908 Seacrer St., I.anslug, Mich. Boston—67-75 Washington St., N. 
Kansas City, Mo.—1226 Eleventh St. Minneapolis—31 3 So. Third St. 
Philadelphia—1616 Market St. 
Omaha—1018 Farnum St. 
) 
Cider Machinery—Semi for Oatalogueto Boomer & 
Boscliert Press Co., 118WestWater St.,Syracuse,N.Y 
Direct from 
factory to 
you, 25 styles 
to choose 
from. Also 
1 i g li t and 
heavy bobs 
and runners. 
Write for catalog 
and prices now. 
KALAMAZOO CARRIAGE C) HARNESS CO. 
KALAMAZOO, MICH. 
THE PARSONS WAGON 
IS THE ONLY 
FARM ENGINES 
Power for 100 
duties. Make 
sure of long, 
great service by 
buying a Leffel 
Steam Engine— 
the old farm 
stand-by. Power 
plenty for all 
uses. _ No dis¬ 
appointments. 
Simple andsafe, 
low running ex- „ ; 
pense, last your t£g 
lifetime. Many t[ 
styles and sizes 
Write for book./! 
James LeHel & Co., Box 210, Springfield, Ohio 
“LOW DOWN” 
MILK WAGON i 
imitated. \v e p a y Good Wages 
WHY 
Our Printed 
Matter Tells 
The Story 
THE PARSONS WAGON CO., Earlville, N. Y. 
The WAGON to BUY. 
Properly con¬ 
structed. Saves labor, annoy¬ 
ance and expense of repairs. 
STEEL WHEELS 
TO FIT ALL 
WAGONS. 
Your addrc33 oa a postal will bring you free catalog. 
The Geneva Metal Wheel Co., 
Box 17. Geneva, Ohio. 
to men who have the ability and energy to sell our 
high-grade nursery products. Particulars free. 
WESTERN NEW YORK NURSERIES, Rochester, N. Y. 
STRENGTH OF 
PageFence 
8tock or runaway teams 
may run into a Page 
Fence—or trees may full 
across and crush it—but 
when the pressure is 
gone the fence will 
spring back to its place 
uninjured, because tho 
horizontal bars in Pago 
Fence are made of Steel 
Spring wire, coiled un¬ 
der high tension —give 
and tuke up just like a 
spring. Our interesting 
catalog tells more fea¬ 
tures about Page Fence. 
W rite for it. 
Page Woven Wire Fence Co. 
Box 717, Adrian, Rich, 
YOU CAN SEE 
SLATE ROOFS 
still in good condition in England and 
Wales. Will any other roof last one- 
tenth as long? Their cost is only a 
trifle more than short-lived roofing. 
Write to-day for book and particulars 
regarding 
Sea Green and Purple Slate Roofs, 
giving name of your local roofer. 
500 YEARS OLD 
The American Sea Green Slate Co., Box 10, Granville, N. Y. 
