Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-09-10
From tho Albany Cul.iyator.
THE
lMENT.

WrsSrs. CayIord 81 2'ack0.-In the
spring Of 1887, | wrote to Judge Bacl, ask
ing him to Join me in experiments on the
peach tree with salt Pelrc, and proposed to
give the result through the medium of the
Culiiva,or to the public. | gave as "A rca-
son for that request, that as far as my obscr-
walton extended, | had always ahScrved
that on soils containing nitro and muriate of
soda, the peach tree lives luyuriantly to an
advanced ace, while upon souls Immediately
adjoluing, immature decay takes place, and
the tree seldom attains the age Of seven
years. As instances IN vindication of this
occur 50 frequently, | have been astonishcd
to see them PASSED over without notice, aud
now advert to some oitllcmto establish tic
truth of this position. Peach trees growing
in lhe site where once stood adwciling, gcn-
orally live to an old age, the soil orwhich, by
analysis, will give a proportion Of nitrc.-
The same thing occursin many districts OF
the West and South West. Upon one farm
the occupant has no officially inhaying good
peaches, while his neighbor finds i, a labor
ious task to prolong the life of the tree to a
few years, and on well cultivated farms near
the scaboard, | have been informed they
havo but little difficulty in growing this tree.
Having these and other instances for my
guidance, | commenced experiments with
salt and salt pctrc, in the year 1856, upon
an orchard six years old /; clover was sowcd
upon it that spring, and it remained in grass
till last fan, when it was plowcd, and sown
with wheat and clover this spring. The
trees in SO were full of worms; some ofthe
trees were dead, others apparently dying,
and but very few put on the appearance OF
health such was its diStempcred condition
that some oimy friends advised me to cut
down about one half Of those that yet showed
life, saying that such was the practice OF
peach growers. | thought it would be a bad
practice for "A physician to destroy one OF
more ola family to prevent disease from
spreading, and after cutting down those that
were dead, | commenced operations on the
balance with equal quantities of salt and salt
pctrc combined, applying about half pound
upon the surface aud in contact with the
trunk of the tree +; then sowcd it broadcasr
over part Of the orchard, at the rate Of abou.
two bushels per acre. The result of this APP
p'lcation to the surprise of my friends, wa,
the appearance of perfect health, with new
aud vigorous shoots, and trees full of fruit
which matured with increased size and i'm.
proved flavor. Towards the last of March
and again in may and September, 1887,
applied the same Ingredients in diilcrcntpro
portions without observing much Difference,
in the effect (; though ! have since though
that where | applied the salt pcirc alone
and where the largest portion ofthc mixtur,
was nitro, the effect was best but in conse.
quence of the price Of salt petre, | have en-
dcavored to ascertain the smallest ~quantit,
that should be used, and | would not advis,
less than one eighth, tho'l should prefer on,
fourth or more. My trees this fall 1887
were free from worms, all doing well, and
have found no further use for the axe in til,
orchard. In the year 1898, | applied til,
mixture TO a part Of my orchard in March
the other part received the application il
June and September; upon that part don,
in March, had an abundance Of fruit, Will
those done IN the 9th and 9Th months wcr
comparatively destitute of fruit, it havin
been killed by a late frost. 1t occurred I