Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-09
agricultural.
PEACH TREES IN COLD CLIMATES.

Some months ago western nurSeryman,
who had plan for protecting peach trees
during severe winters, consulted us with
reference to patenting his process. Con-
sidering that patenting mere process or
way of doing thing in horticulture was,
to say the least, inexpedient, he was ad-
,ised to give his simple discovery to the
general fund of knowledge. He had all his
life profited by the accumulated experience
Of thousands of others, and we considered
it only right that he should make this small
return The gentleman would not consent
10 make his discovery public, but wished
us TO advertise that he would communicate
his secret for compensation. This propo-
sition was declined for the reason that,
while the secret might be worth the sum
asked. most persons, when they found out
how simple the thing was, would consider
that they had been sold and would blame
us accordingly The process in question
having been described to us under circum-
stances implying confidence, it was not Civ
en- publicity and the matter dropped. In a
recent number Of the Country Gentleman
another person, "V W. s." has hit upon
almost precisely the same expedient as the
one alluded to, and as every liberal hOrti-
tiCulturist should he communicates his eX-
perience for the benefit of the public. The
method is simply to lay down the trees and
keep the tops covered with snow. 1t is
done as follows dig a trench on one side
Of the tree, about foot from the trunk, and
sufficiently deep TO uncover the roots. The
lateral roots on this side are to be cut off
at II or ID inches from the tree, and those
IL, i ,,.J L.,
cred by thrusting a sharp spade directly
under the tree. The tree may now be bent
over and the branches brought close to the
ground. The roots upon one side being
severed and the remaining ones undistur-
bed, this can be accomplished without diff
Guilty. 1t is important to save all the roots
possible and yet allow the tree to be bent
down, and only those should be severed
which interfere with this object. The up
turned roots have sufficient earth placed
over them to protect them from frost, and
the tops are lightly covered with refuse
vines from the garden or similar litter
When snow falls, it is heaped up over the
top of the tree so that it will be covered to
the depth of six inches or a foot, and the
covering kept on all winter. In spring
when the buds are about to start, the tree
is brought up to its natural position and Sc
cured by pressing the earth firmly around
the roots The work of lying down is done
before the ground freezes, and the first
snow is put over the top, taking care to
keep the covering repaired from time to
time. 1t is advised that the tree be pruned
in something of fan shape, in order to
bring the mass of branches as near the
ground as possible. The writer above al
luded to, states that he has followed this
method with five trees, for two years, with
the most satisfactory results. The plan
seems well worthy of trial in these local
tiles where the limbs of peach trees are Ii
able to be wintcr-kilIed. The experiments
should be made with young trees. The III
cidcntal root pruning will promote fruitful
ncss.--Amerjca AgrjcuHuroijst.