Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-04
Protecting the Peach Crop from Winter.

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We have on former occasions expressed the
opinion that peaches may be had, with some
labor, every year throughout the Northern
States. few experiments have been made
In difere n places, and the resu 1t has been more
OF less successful. A question is as to the
easiest and best mode of protection. S,ysra,
have re- commanded training trees low, bend ug
down the branches and covering them with
earth in the same way that rasp5erries a.e com
monty projected. An objection to th,s mode is
that the rightly of the peach lifnns prevents
them from lying fiat on the ground and an.
other is, the liability Of tee buds to become
water-soaked and rot unless the earth cover
ing is removed the very day the frost leaves it
especially If the sell be very strong or heavy.
We tried few experiments last winter, a
state OF which may be interesting to those
having the same object before them. The win.
ter was favorable TO Such eXperirnentS-in 9TH
words ii killed every exposed fruit bud on
the peach in the nsighborhood- solitary
one " as seen that had escaped. One set Of ex-
periments consisted in drawing bundle of the
shoots together npon the tree, aud covering
WITH moss wrapped in paper or sacking; an
inch or more OF fine moss thus paced
ofCund The shoots, but it failed to afford the
desired pFotection-ail the buds were destroy
eo ny the cold. Perhaps casing of oilcloth,
to shut out the ram and keep the moss perfect
~ dry. would have succeeded better. TIE OBJ
ject was 10 obyiate the necessity o bending
down the shoots, and large portions of the tree
might thus BE- secured with but little labor
The substitution OF evergreen leaves for the
moss would upquPs tICDably have been an i'm
ICONtIIbnI. i'aG Ihry GeCn at naDG. Another
trial was made by bending down the low
bTanche nearly 10 the earth while thew were
growing, the previous summer, and covering
these with bundles of corn -fedder A single
bundle, or q single thickness found Insult
fcienJ 10 keep out the cold. and did not sue
coed hEt two or more thicknessrs afford "a
ample protect Their branches We're load
ed with blossoms, and bore larg" crops of fruit.
Some IF the trees ere enCaspd IN small stacks
OF corn fodder, but the Workmen performing
the experiment. N the absence of the owner did
ihe work quite lmperfectly, leaving large
eUings through which the cold air swept
DIV a few Of.the buds were cOnseq nently
saved. Tfere is no doubt that this mate of
protecting tie peach crop would be an easy
and eff ciegtt ore for farmers who raise corn
The peach CIChaIGi should be a Joining the cat
tie yard, al kept clear of grass and weeds SO
not 10 il. vite mice. The fodder should be
drawn early in winter, and nearly sta ksd
he prun~o in compact form. After The season
OF sevtIeSt ~-Calher has pass d, (which varies
in q tterenT .oCaiI-iHs, but hICh il usually af-
ter the lapse 0! about tWC-t rds OF the winter)
the fodder may be taken away from the trees
and ted 10 the cattle. Every farmer who raises
much corn ay thus protac: dozen or two of
trees with additional lator.
In regions where evergreen trees are abun-
dant the protection ofeyerGreen hOugh7, wheth-
eT il he by &C yerinE the PROSTATE h,nns, or ny
enc4sIBg The 81 cots higher on the tree, would
be better and doubtless more efficient T. Bat
entirely suck sTnl by using an evergreen COW
erin IF COILS 4 few inches, although the thar-
n omet'T i'll thatregioD often goes down % thirty
fegrs' below zero. He found no difficulty in
obtaining peaches every year. The only quas-
ton was the economy of the experiment., " nich
we hope will he tested by some of our enter
prising fruit-raisers in cold regions Country
Gent7eF an.