Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-08-06
R1CUETUR Ar.
From the National Intelligencer.
ON REARING PEACH TREES.

brief article, over the signature of Hazel
ing's River. addressed indirectly to me, in
regard to my observations on the Peach
Tree, IN which the writer states, that il
can give means TO cultivate and preserve
the Peach tree, it will be gratefully &C.
knowledged by some Of "my old friends
on Hawiing's river.
II would certainly be very consoling TO
me to perform any act which would secure
the interest of many persons on Having Z
river, TO whom acknowledge myself un.
der obligations OF gratitude, but as regards
nv obsery atoms on one Of our finest fruits
nv wishes were TO do benefit to the pub
lie in general II is upwards of forty years
since | read the result of some experiments
on the Peach tree, which made deep i'm
preston on my mind, and turned my at
tention TO the subject, and, when | resi-
ded near Natchez, North latitude $40 40',
| made some essays, which confirmed
what had read 10 Pennsylvania Chan
ges in my circumstances, which eventua
ted in change of employment, precluded
any further agricultural experiments by
me for long series Of years In the 10
terval, frequent examples, however, lntru.
ded themselves to show that it was vul
gar error TO suppose the Peach tree could
not be preserved, as, in the range OF up
wards Of thirteen degrees oflatitude, saw
it flourishisg 10 different localities. One
circumstance struck me frequently, and
that was, that Peach trees near dwelling
houses, were almost uniformly more vigo-
rous and productive, than those in orch
a,1s and sill mara eunorinr .n fhnsa ainuv
fences. Long previous to any resumption
Of experiments OF my own, had come 10
The conclusion that the best mode to cut
tirate the Peach tree, was TO cultivate it.
1t is a tender nursing out of its original
climate, and demands more care than per-
haps any other of our exotic vegetables /;
but the care bestowed upon it, il properly
conducted, will seldom fail Of reward
The actual experiments which did Fl
nally make on branch Of Hawlings riv-
err, were not made very regularly, or ex-
tensively, but in both instances very salts
factorily. Early in 1926, Irented small
farm, on which there was one or two peach
trees only, and when | left il, in 1884, /
left number in the utmost health. In fact
left every one in a state Of health ever
attempted to cultivate. My pursuits were
such as TO preclude extended attention TO
any agricultural operations, but hesitate
not to say, that with the same means. on
a larger scale, could have made flour
ishing Peach orchard Of the whole farm.
To see Peach tree dying when left neg
lected and choked with weeds, ought TO
excite no wonder, and that this tree should
submit to the common law which regu.
lates the life Of organized matter, is surely
no subject of surprise.
In brief. have already stated the man
ner in which | proceeded, but which shall
here repeat.
LIST. planted some peach stones annu-
ally.
Cd. Where young tree rose, from
seed casually thrown, where the tree could
be conveniently left, it was left.
Sd. When tree exhibited marks Of de-
cay j cut away the stem close to the ground.
Now, in respect to No. /, il is needless
for me to multiply words, the inevitable
results are too obvious.
No 2. might, probably. be dismissed as
briefly as No / but may observe that
without roots no tree can exist, and from
what have seen of the Peach tree doubt
whether any other vegetable demands in
proportion more root. The writer TO whom
alluded in the beginning of this article,
observed, that it was of advantage TO the
Peach {. " to prevent the stem, or stems,
from rising for several years, and have
every where observed that when by any
accident the young stem was destroyed,
the future tree was far superior to others
which were suffered 10 rise uninjured from
the original root.
Ia 1888, from the small number of trees
which raised and managed as stated,
when the same fruit failed every where
else in the neighborhood, and when the
tree itself had disappeared from several
farms a most abundant crop was produ.
ced. In 1884 the result was still more re-
markable, as frost became an enemy to the
Peach, still my trees had passable crop,
and the only crop Of the same frutin the
vicinity.
To conclude. In the cultivation of the
Peach tree in Maryland. had no other
object in view but TO supply my family
with fruit, and the object was attained, as
for several years, we were never without
plenty Of dried fruit from our own trees.
Ia giving to the public the result, can
have no other object in view than to draw
public attention to what has really been
performed, and in a neighborhood, too,
where an idea seems still to prevail, that
the peach tree cannot be preserved. With
due Difference TO farmers on large scale,
must doubt whether or no, their failure,
in preserving the Peach, does not arise
from their regarding the fruit as luxury,
delicious, but of comparative small value.
That it can be preserved, where and when
suitable means are adopted and pursued,
am convinced, from observations continu'
ed through between forty and fifty years
and through all the climates between Ca
NADIA and the Mexican Gulf
AGRlCoLA.
p S. After the above was written,