Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-10-06
FARMERS department.
CULTIVATION OF PEACHES.

Although the following "pan directions
for planting an6 cotivatng peaches" appear.
ed several years ago, we regard them as about
the most reliable that we have yet seen. The
article appeared in the Plow, Loom and An
rh Published in New York, by that old war.
horse OF agriculture, John s. Skinner, ESQ.
who established the american Fa,ne, in Bal.
timore, the first agricultural periodical es.
tablished in this country. The article is re.
ally valuable, and will be read with interest,
as we'll as the notes by the editor. The shift.
ing OF the time referred to in the article. from
lS5O-5l, is easily done, and thus all the in.
structions brought directly home to the pres.
ent time:
PLAIN DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING AND cuLTI-
WAITING PEACHES.
subscriber proposing to settle near Mo
bile, Ala, and cultivate peaches for that mar.
ket, requested information as to the manage.
ment of that fruit in Delaware, where its cul-
tivation had become as extensive and success.
ful, comparatively, as in New Jersey.
The following is the answer to such iuqui.
res as seemed best calculated to elicit the
information desired. How beneficial TO the
community that the conductors of public
journals should have it in their power TO re-
sort in such cases to men animated by the
spirit to impart, as we'll as to seek and profit
by the results Of the most enlightened expe-
rience.
WHElrLAHD, Dec. &c, 1850.
Mr.. J. s. SKINNER :--In reply to your re.
quest asking detailed information on the sub
ject Of peach growing in Delaware, send
you the following from Philip Reybold, Jr.,
who is the most extensive and reliable nur-
seryman in this section Of the country. He
says:
l. He prefers the stone Of the natural
fruit; thinks they are more hardy and grow
off the better.
2. There is no reliance upon the seed Of the
peach reproducing its kind 1t is in that re-
! spect like the apple, or other orchard fruits.
3. Seeds are best preserved by drying
them in the shade where they are protected
from the sun and rain. They may lie two or
three inches thick by little attention in keep.
ing them stirred. In three or four weeks they
may be put away in barrels or boxes. and if
perfectly dry they may be kept two or three
years.
4. The seed of 1850 may be prepared thus
About the middle of May. 1851, excavate q
trench or bed for convenience say four feet
wide three inches in depth, and OF sufficient
length TO hold the quantity OF seed you wish
to plant. At the bottom of this bed place
thu peach stones, close by the side OF each
other but only one seed deep then cover
over with the same earth that was taken from
the bed, we'll pulverized, throwing the finest
10 first on the seed. Then let the bed remain
undisurbed, without any ether cultivation, or
,ceeding. till the spring Of 1852. The seed
stones will then be fairly open, some with
sprouts from one. eighth to one inch long. If
the weather ia warm in winter cover the bed
with straw or litter OF some sort, so as to pre-
vent sprouting too early. Keep them back
somewhat as we did the eggs Of the silk.
norm in times by. gone, till ready for planting.
Fer the nursery, the ground should be pre-
pared peli, as for corn. Then strike out four
feet wipe, and plant your seed in the rows
about eight inches apart; cover carefully with |
the hoe about Two inches deep. The man
that covers should walk on the row, so as to |
press the dirt close on the seed. Here Mr.. |
Reybold called my attention to what he call |
ed small bot important matter, from an in- |
attention to what he had suffered in bis pro. |
duets, at least the first three years of his |
practice. Ia taking up the seed from the bed |
in which they have been planted, have a sharp |
shovel in careful hand. Scalp of the COW |
ering of the seed, but not SO close as to dis |
turb them. Then turn up the seed with |
shovel by running it under the seed, and when |
so turned over the seed are to be taken up |
Ill
once to the planting ground or nursery, and |
put in as before described. All seed taken
up should be planted the same day, as frost
of the night or hot sun might injure the gorm
The kernels only are TO be planted, no part of
the huls. After thus planted in the nursery,
then cultivate and keep clean. as for corn or
other garden or field culture; not to be trans.
planted, but remain here two years, when
they are ready to plant in orchard. The seed
will come up in about six weeks
WHEN TO ISSocuLArE OR BUD.
In August or September. the later the bet
ter, the fret yesr after planting. Buds for
with should be selected from
healthy trees. No trees which show symptoms
of geilous or dectins. from any cause, should
be used You ask what kind o: fruit trees is
best to bud from. Bud from the catalogue
here sent it embraces eighteen varieties of
choice fruits, easily distinguished, and com
prise the best and only necessary varieties
for the Philadelphia or New York
markets. The peach of the open varieties
are preferred now as OF the oden time OF
which YOU spoke. Indeed, in New York n
cling. except for preseryng.s seldom inquired
for. Healthy peaches of the early Troth va
rety will be ready for market from the Sd to
the 9th OF August: the peach market lasts
about two months. or the selections here
come Of the varieties are con-
stantly ready for market, in the order 10
which they are numbered. II
Budding should be done late, so as TO finish
while the sap is in the wood but so early as
for the bud to start growing before the next
spring.
The spring after budding cut the top from
the young trees close above the bud, and be
particular to keep all natural sprouts down,
allowing nothing bat the bud to grow which
will attain from five to seven feet before the
fret year. Prune nor trim none, unless in
csse OF deformty in the young tree.