The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-10-12

on top, loosely, anu yo"'
done; even in dry weather, the Tree
thus planted will need no more care
for three weeks at least.
1t takes time, 10 be sure, but oi'eh
time lost, is time saved, and so IL Is
here, not only time saved, but trees
saved. -,
It is the nature oil young peach
trees to keep on growing till late In
the tall, and it is best even, In florl-
da, to check this iDjudicious vlgor' oy
pinching off the young shoots, ana
ceasina to stir the soil. Bearing
trees, ia this respect, should be treat
ed differently; let them grow as late
as they will, it will do them no harm
in this latitude, for the laaent fruit
buds will consums all the extra. sap
caused by cultivation.
Ia the last word, cultivation, icon
Jointly with pruning), lies the grand
secret of success in peach raising;
from the moment the buds begin to
swell in the spring, till the leaves
fall in the autumn, keep the soil
around the tree so mellow and free
from weeds, that you can at any time
run your hand right down into it,
and bring it up filed with loose soil.
Cultivate at the beginning, cults
yate at the middle, cultivate at the
end; this, with due prdning, will sex
cure a fine crop of fine peaches,
where. without these two things con-
Joined, the same trees would produce
tough, leathery, unripened fruit.
This latter is the usual condition
of our native Florida peaches, not
because they are inherently poor,
but because their owners, like the
an Gent Medians, do not understand
their proper treatment.
Cultivation and pruning, pruning
and cultivation, thesesare imperative
elements of success in the peach orr
chard; very rich soil is not needed,
in fact, it Is apt TO promote wood
growth a. the expense OF fruit, Tor
every horticulturist knows that great
growth and fruit cannot be expected
the same season.
The best fertilizer for the peach
tree is made in the following proper
tions: four bushels OF leaf mould, or
hammock top soil; one bushel OF
well.rotted COW chips; one peck OF
unlcacEed hardwood ashes, and
quarter OF q peck of sal.-these will
give splendid results in growth and
fruit.
The tree requires yearly pruning
as the fruit is only grown on wood
of the last seasons growth, and all
superfluous wood therefore, only
takes SO much food away from the
working portions OF the tree.
When set out, it should be cut
back to within two and halt feet OF
the ground; below this cut young
shoots will be produced, from which
three should be selected TO form the
main branches of the tree, all other
shoots being pinched off,-the second
year these three branches are cut
back one half their length, one shoot
being allowed to grow, to continue
the branch, and another 10 form a
secondary branch, while few bear
ing shoots are left to grow from the
older wood; the third season the six
leading branches are shortened one
half, to obtain more bearing shoots,
and so the formation OF the ''head"
goes on for five years,-and then
thereafter, all that is necessary is an
annually to shorten in the older
branches, and trim out where too
thick here AiNNt
As we have demonstrated, it is the
want of this self same pruning and
cultivation that has given the oppor>
tunity for so many to declare that
"gooL peaches cannot be raised in
Florida" Let those who have old