The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-08-29


fruit this season makes up to great
extent for tho scarcity Of the apple
crop, and demonstrates the wisdom of
planting all, or at least the leading,
kinds of fruit, instead of relying, as
many do, on one (the apple) alone.
Another point in favor OF peaches, lie
their early bearing qualities, for l
have had peaches 10 bear one and
half years from . bud, or two years
from ssed. Whsreas II takes most
othsr fruits from three to six years
ord more.
Although in favorable years, peach
es succeed in almost any soil and loca-
ton, yet favorable locations greatly
augment the yield in unfavorable sea-
sons. For these it is best to choose
some high northern or northeastern
exposure, dry sandy locations being
best adapted, yet not exactly necessa-
ry, as they will grow in almost any
soil, though they have their preference
in the way of soil and location, as
well as any other fruit. They will
grow in poor so!l, but prefer rich. To
make peach growing pay, four things
are necessary: 1. Choice budded va
rieties. 2. Culture. 8. Pruning. 4.
Thinning out heavy crops.
Cultivation is essential, when largo
fruit is the subject, and nothing will
damage peach orchard more, and ru-
in it quicker than blue grass. Grass
sod has perhaps ruined more trees
than the borcr. Not long since was
shown what was once fine orchard,
now complete wreck, and asked for
the. cause: one simple word expressed
it-sod!
To economizc space. they may be
planted in an apple orchard, one peach
in the centre of four apple trees, and
as they grow faster aud bear earlier
than apple they can make eight or ten
crops before they will come in contact
and hinder the apple trees, when they
should be cut out. This applies to a
commercial orchard. For family use,
plant where they are to remain. Fence
corners (raiD are often utilized by
planting peach trees in every other
corner, and they do well, partly on
account of the protection the fence af-
fords and partly on account of the rich
aud mellow soil generally found along
a rail fence. But as / have already
stated, grass must be abolished.
Next to cultivation, pruning is the
most necessary. The trees ought to
be headed back every year or two,
which is done by cutting the limbs off
to nearly half the last years growth.
This makes the limb stronger, and the
trees compact and vigorous, and able
to Withstand storms and severe cold
better. The trees ought to be headed
low, especially on the prairie. The
crown should be formed two feet
above the ground. The wood of peach
trees is very brittle and frall, and liza
bic to injury by storms, hence these
precautions. Then,t too, low trees can,
during severe winter, or unfavora-
bic spring, be protected by placing
corn stalks upright all around the tree
by which simple aud inexpensive
method, often valuable crop is saved,
and in unfavorable years crop saved
pays big.
Another important point is the thin
ming out of the fruit, when the trees
arc overloaded. This is done by pull
ing off By hand, or with an implement
similar to 4 rake, having the teeth set
close, all the surplus fruit. taking the
smallest and imperfect. La this every
one must exercise his own Judgment,
as no one rule can be given. Some
times onc-half of the fruit ought to be
taken off. Mans avaricious nature is
not apt to allow thinning out TO be
overdone.
The following are the best and lar
gcst varieties OF peaches and ripcn in
the order named.
An asterisk (s) indicates a cling
stone; dagger Cd yellow peaches.
Those not marked with are free
stones. Extra early-Amsden's June,
Alexander. Early-Early Beatrice,
Early Rivers, Troth's Early, Early
York. oummer-fFostcr. Old Mix
on Free, fSusquchanna, Mammoth
Cling. Late-Stump the World,
.fLcmon Cling, Morris White. tSal-
way. Very late-*Health Cling, and
Steady, both white. This list gives.a
succession from June to October. The
Amsden's June is undoubtedly the
most valuable on the list, not alone
on account Of its extra earliness, hay
ing ripcned this season at Sedalia on
the 18th day OF June, but also for its
excellent flavor, fine size, beautiful
color, and good shipping qualities.
Very early and late peaches are the