Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-05-13
Cultivation of Peaches.

A gentleman ''down in Delaware writes
as follows to the editor of the Ge7n,QntoVn
Telegraph:-
MIR. Editor,-Thc mode generally adopted
here is to flow up a sod the year before plant
ing, the field should be in sod that is wanted
for the purpose. But stubble and cornfields
are frequently taken; and in no case should
the trees be planted in sod. The ground
should be prepared as early in the spring as
possible, by good blowing and narrowing
and struck out each way twenty feet apart,
which with us is close enough, but where
trees are net expected to live over four or
live years, fifteen feet would answer. Plant
good, healthy trees the same as planting any
other tree; but | like to have each tree
wntered imme diatcly after planting. In no
case should the tree be more than one year
old from the budding when planted out; if
they should be older they rarely do any good.
| prefer spring planting to fall, be-
cause il the trees are planted in loose ground
in the fall, the winter winds blow them
about and make them loose, and they not
only get out OF shape, but many of them
perish by water freezing about the roots.
The first thing TO be done is to cut off the
whole top of your young tree with sharp
knife below the branches leaving only the
stem. When the tree commences to grow
and gets good start, cut Off all the shoots,
except what you require to make ii good
shaped tree, and let all the nourishment 20
into these, Nothing more should be done to
them in the way Of pruning, except taking
OIL Tic superllu0us suckers, until they are
three years old, when they should be care
fully trimmed, so us to give the tree light
and air. Care will have TO be taken in the
meantime to keep your trees clear of worms.
They attack them just at the surface of the
ground, and the gum cXuding will he n sure
| sign OF their Presence. Take an ordinary
pen knife and cut the bari; along their path
way, until you lind them; they are white,
about an inch long; sometimes there is a
large number around the butt Of one tree,
and will soon destroy it unless removed. /
know of no remedy SO good as to cut them
out and kill them.
A peach orchard should be kept clean, well
| plowed and cultivated. Cornis iNc best crop
| TO raise among the trees. Potatoes do well
but corn is preferred on account of working
both ways. In no case should grain Of any
and be sowed in young orchard. Some
persons have shorcncd-in their trees by cut
ting oil the ends Of the limbs, with wha,
success do not know. But the bearing
'ood OF the peach is the summers growth
q! the year before.-All you who want to
,"uit your peaches LOT next year can now
llnd every bud upon last summers growth
Of wood.
In regard to the best varieties to plant. |
VIII give my opinion, although there are
many varieties, some of which / am not &C.
quainted with, but the different kinds here
recommend can he relied on as good, hardy
trees and excellent bearers. First of ali
good peaches comes Froth's Early, a good
fiuit' and ripens about the first Of August ;
next comes Early York, a finer peach, and
OF excellent flavor next, Crawford's Early,
very line yellow peach; next, Wark's Free
an excellent peach and fine bearer; next.
Morris Red, a superior peach for CARRYING,
on account Of its free stone and solid flesh
next, Oldmixon Free one Of tie very finest
bearers, and hardy tree; and last, thC
Smock, which is as late as any good variety.
ms list OF trees are all good bearers and
me ifut. There are number of fancy va.
rleties Of large peaches, but generally pool
bearers, besides other good varieties, which
have not mentioned dut this list will ri
pen from first to last during tie peach sea.
: SON have omitted the Morris White and
Late Heath Cling, for the reason that thcy
have been budded so often tina, they have
both become worn out, and neither produc
es perfect fruit. cong it,4str