Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-03-21
From tie Rockingham, Register.
THE PEACH AND ITS DISEASE, &

lfult tnaGlSs rarely e1ceeQeu 0y any otn
er, in beauty, delicious flavor, or nourish
ing aud wholesome qualities. and in yrarl
gone by was cultivated with the leaS
possible care. 1t was only necessary tc
plant a stone in autumn, and with com,
pIratively no attention, healthy, Yigor>
Gus, long lived tree would spring from il
but not SO now there Is a7malady in
the psach that is little understood, and it
has become subject of considerable in
tereSt to the peach planter or cultiVator.
in this country and in the majority of in
stances, the worm, or peach bOrer is char
ged with the destruction of this noble
fruit, but l venture to say that in
twenty -four instances out Of twenty Eve
this depredAtor is unjuslly accused: for
the general cause Of the short life Of the
peach tree is constitutional disease call
ed the yelloWs, but, perhaps. in most Of
cases, the peach worm accompanies this
disease, hence the charge against this
impostor. The worm is easily destroyed;
If there is any sod around the tree, res
move it. and place around the tree, a
peck OF unslacked lime and ashes mixed.
Do this in the month of May and leave it
until after October; then spread it about
under the tr,e, and repeat this process
yearly. This is euectuAI in the absence
Of the yellows. The presence Of this di
ease is easily known by the following
SYMPTOMS: The fruit will ripen from one
to three weeks sooner than usual, and
diminish in size. and whatever the color
may be around ;he stone, il becomes deep
er red, and as the disease advances, the
peach becomes more favorless this sym
tom. alone is not, however, in every
case. certain 81 gn OF the presence Of the
yelIOWS. but when the thick OF main bran
ches, and very frequently when the trunk,
puts forth great many finU, wirery,
dlmlnutiVe and sickly branches, ana un-
less the tree has been stimulated by some
stimulating manures, the small narrow
leaves will have a yWllowish appearance.
i'll the advanced stage Of the disease.
Those thin shoots are so numerous that
they fairly grow in punches whenever
| thlsi is the case the'trec is irrccoverably dis
eased. and to the best Of my knowledge.
there is no remedy, notwithstanding it
has been carefully Sought for Ey the best
practical hOrticulturalts and orcharlisLs.
Well, what is 70 be done IL there any
means by which healthy, long lived trees
can be obtained The first thing we
recommend, is. to cut down everything
tnat has the above marks Of disease, and
be particularly careful not to plant any
seed from such tree. Here tho great
mistake is made, and the disease almost
universally propagated /; for nearly every
lover Of this nOtle fruit. who has very
IaVorite peach tree. which shows sym
toms of decay, will say this tree produces
fruit too good to let it run out. and con.
sWquentIy to continue the variety, he
plants some Of tho seed. lfthe tree from
which ihis seed is taken, is in the first
stage of its disease, it may bring several
crops Of fruit before the above symptoms
can be seen. But nearly always when
the tree is pretty far gone. these small
wiry shoots will appear in the 6rSt years
growth, and the SPlout will finally die be-
lore it bears one crop.
To select seed entirely clear Of the yell
lows is very difficult matter in this cUun-
try, "s comparatively very few entirely
healthy trees can be found any mOIe.
Here l will desctibs the appearance a
tree should have from which to select
seed The foliage should be large. and
dark green; the last years growth should
be very stout and strong the bark Of the
young shoots smooth and clear the buds
plump and full the fruit must not ripen
Immediately, must be plump and luscious;
the stone must not bS thin and sharp, but
round and plump. When trees can be
obtained from such selection of seed, it
can be expected that they will bear for
number Of years by proper attention. II
Is the opinion Of some OF the best horli.
cuIturalists that the ysIlows was first
brought on by the trees OVer-bearing
themselves, and exh4usting the necessary
elements or nutritIVes in the soil wheLh-
er this be correct l am not prepared to
say. But it has been satisfactorily asser.
talneI that when a tree eau be- obtained
from a seed entirely clear Of the yellUWS.
and compost Of ashes, uuslAcked lime
and we'll Stacked manure is annually ap-
piled to the soil, and the top annu ally
shortened in, which consists in cutting OF
the half Of every shoot OF the last year 4
growth, which is quickly and easily per-
formed with a scissor or shear for that
purpose. 1t will bear for many years
without showing the least signs OF dis.
ease,-shortening in shOuld be done in
all instances before the sap rises. Ii
should be remembered that peaches are
only once bOrue on the same branch, chat
is to say, the branch which gre" las.
year will bear this year that whIcn
grows this year will bear next year
f Thus in the course of time the tree be-
comes so wide spreading. that the trunE
is scarcely able TO bear heavy crop with
r out injuaing its health. or breaking il
. down. shortening in not only has ten
? dency to keep the head OF tue tree com
pact and close, but Al The same Tim.
nearly the half Of the fruit is cut away
which has great tendency to incTeast
!, the balance in size. flavor auI appearance
-rh;l. h. f..l;a,. ..ens Lnr ,.r i..nk. rarl