Bulletin 80 . 
6 
to see that the blossoms do not open prematurely, or that the 
branch buds are not forced into tender, white growth. When the 
blossom bnds begin to open, the covering should be loosened so as 
to admit light and air, but it should not all be removed. More of 
the covering should be removed as the weather gets warmer, but 
the blossoms must be exposed to the sun gradually. 
Air and light are, of course, necessary for proper fertilization 
of the flowers, but after this process is complete and the fruit is 
set, all danger from the weather is considered as being over. The 
trees are usually raised about the middle of May at Canon City. 
Raising the trees is, of course, a simple task. The ground is 
again watered and when wet enough the trees are raised. To be 
sure, trees that have been treated in this manner will not usually 
stand upright unsupported. Consequently they are propped up at 
an angle, usually two props being required to keep the wind from 
swaying them. 
When this method of growing peaches was first presented be¬ 
fore the State Horticultural Society by Senator Felton, it was re¬ 
ceived with not a little sarcasm by some of the members, but the 
practicability of laying down trees is now no longer questioned. 
The constantly increasing acreage of peaches at Canon City proves 
that it pays. The actual expense is, of course, difficult to esti¬ 
mate, because of the attention required in the spring. The cost of 
the fall work can be estimated, however, as it has been found that 
two men will lay down and cover twenty-five of the largest trees 
in a day. 
This process seems to be in no way detrimental to the health 
of the trees, since they live as long and bear as much fruit accord¬ 
ing to the size of the top as those grown in peach sections. It is, 
of course, necessary to cut out the wide spreading branches and 
thus reduce the size of the top in order to lessen the work of 
covering. 
The following is the record of yields as given by Mr.Rickard: 
In 1902, 150 ten-year-old trees and 350 nine-year-old trees pro¬ 
duced fifteen tons of fruit, or at the rate of 60 pounds per tree. 
In 1901 the yield was almost the same, but in 1900, 20 tons, or 80 
pounds of fruit per tree was secured. 
The marketing of peaches grown on this farm has thus far 
been a simple matter, as most of the fruit is sold at the orchard, 
and at prices ranging from 3 cents a pound for culls to 10 cents 
for fancy stock, the average price being 6 cents a pound. So long 
as the fruit can be sold in this way the expense of packages is 
reduced to a minimum. 
But how about growing peaches in this manner north of the 
Arkansas Valley? Can it be done? Most assuredly it can, and it 
is done every year, but only in a small way, and the trees are so 
few and in such widely separated neighborhoods that they attract 
