The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-26

a.' has peeh furnishing the JeItysburg
CoDPiter with a series Of practical and in-
teresting articles on farming, roadmaking
and planting Of fruit trees. We publish
the subjoined article at tho request Of
practical farmer Of Uniontown district, Who
is acquainted with Mr.. Sherry, and knows
him to be thoroughly familiar with aeri.
cultural topics-Eds. Advocate.
Mr. Editor:---In obedienec to your re.
quest, ! herewith present you few ideas
on Peach Culture.
Before planting the first thought should
be concerning the soil and location. Al
most any soil in Adams county that win
grow good corn win grow peaches, but
some soils certainly are much better adap-
ted to the growth Of the peach thsa Others
A light sandy or gravcly loan is best
chestnut, blue gravel and granite are also
very good tho poorest, wet clay.
As TO location, Of all | prefer southern
or southeastern one, well protected on the
north and northwest by hill or wood, well
away from the influence Of a stream of
water Il Is true that other locntions much
exposed do well, but from twenty years
experience and observation, am positive
that many more bushels can be grown in
a given time on Q sheltered location than
on an exposed one.
Distance In planting | should modify
according to the probable age the tree may
attain in that locality. II naturally long
lived | would plant the trees 18 or 20 feet
apart and grow the limbs % to 3 feet
above the ground; If short-liyed l would
plant the trees about IL feet asunder and
grow the limbs ! to feet above ground.
! have observed that closely planted
orchard, If once infested with the yellows,
will die out much sooner than one planted
a greater distance apart.
Before planting cut off all mangled roots
with sharp knife; shorten 10 all strag-
Cling roots within one foot Of the main stem
In planting | prefer to set the trees
{ about inches deeper than they stood in
the nursery; dig the hole but few inches
deeper than intended for the tree, fill up
partly with good top soil, set the tree in
, and carefully throw good loose soil over
and around the roots; when nearly full
tramp the soil down nicely; gil up the bal
/ anee and tramp down well; now trim the
. trees by cutting of the tops at the height
you desire the limbs to form on the stem;
vary few inches in order to cut directly
above a leaf bud. If any top limbs arc
left, cut them off within 2 or inches Of
: the main stem, also just above leaf bud
trim the balance Of the stem as clean as a
!, staff. Trees planted in the fall should not
be trimmed until Spring. The top acts as
! a sort of shield during winter. Then,
' also, injured branches can be more readily
: seen. As soon as possible, after planting.
4 place large forkful Of straw, long manure,
: leaves or anything that viii form mulch
: close around each Of the trees, for the pur.
: pose OF protecting them from the dronth
1 and weeds Trees protected 10 this man.
4 ner will grow much larger the first season
a than those unprotected; hence gain Of a
n year or more in fruiting. A second trim.
n ming should be done in the month Of June.
all branches that have grown on the stem
.. below those intended for the head should
q, be loppped of; likewise cut in any strac
4. ling branches that have gone far bcyont
= the general contour of the head. Itiswel
1. In some cases to thin out some on one side
or the other, in order to give the tree the
proper balance and handsome shape. II
4 I is Of great importance that this work BE-
: very properly and timely done. In after
l seasons this same manner Of TRIMMING
4 should be attended to, except where the
:. trees need renewing OF have BECOME too
large or enfeebled BY oyerbearing; then
!, shorten in all branches more or less IA
j. order to cause the tree to throw out new
! and vigorous limbs.
4 Peach trees bear cultivation well. Grow
! ing corn in young orchard with me has
: paid well. Live stock, small grains ana
! grass should not be tolerated in an orchard
For the borer, the best remedy is cold
: steel. In the month of September or a.
soon as sap is observed exudine out Of the
+ base Of the tree examine il carefully, dig
i out the worm and kill 1t. You save its
4 winter board. The borcr kills the tree by
. eating away the inner bark. Examine he
! trees again in March and April.
Of all diseases that the peach Is heir 10
the 'yellows" Is the worst. Our hest
pomologists agree that it is fungus that
attacks the roots Of the tree. Prof Mea.
han, editor Of the Gardaer's Monthly, ii
/ the March number, in speaking Of the
"yellows, says :-aThe spawn attacks
healthy living roots and permeates tho
tree through all itsparss. Budding, there
fore, will communicate the disease. 4
knife, used on diseased tree NAV ca,rv
it. The falling leaves Of diseased trea
blowing under healthy one, win carrv
the threads into the soil, and the peach
stones of diseased tree may travel and
carry the fungus thousand miles. Inan
: orchard were diseased trees exist the loe
harrow spreads the disease very rapidly
from the roots Of one tree 10 those of
another, and even where the soil i MT
disturbed much the spawn spreads under
ground from tree 10 tree
Trees that are known TO have the ayel.
lows" should be torn up, root and branch
and burned. Never plant trees near al.
cased ones. The s'yellows is as contsc.
ious among trees as the rinderpest is among
cattle. Always use seed grown unop Z Z
healthy natural Seeding peach, from I
section where the ayellowsa have not an.
J peared. l believe the disease can be- az.
ried by the bees and wind from tree "a
tree 10 the pollen. The ''yellows'' tmvel
fastest in an casterly direction.
Careless nnrserynen cnn cause al ;rra.
parable amount Of loss 10 the piapisr by
not attending to this matter properly:
As 70 varieties, choose those that have
proven 70 be profitable to the orchafdist
Touch new varieties lightly. As ! rule
they are generally mere eaicI.penniss.