The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-09-19
The Cultivation OF Peaches.
rnksf.4.r-Es. D.o..-.R

1t has often been wondered why the peach
is confined to Delaware and Southern Mary
land, although il is indigenous to nearly all
portions Of America The pesch should b.
cultivated in all the Middle States, fer the
severity OF the winters and changes OF heat
and cold are no more variable than In Della
ware. The principal causes in the failures OF
the peach are the fellows and the depreds-
tions CT the bOrer. SO far as the latter is cDn-
cerDea the grower is at faalt No one who
gives full attention to the orchard need b.
troubled wish the borer. The borer does not
bore his way inside in an instant nor ia he
deposited except st certain seasons. By al
occasional examination the b3rer may be
prevented, Gs he is easily destroyed after
effecting lodging il he is dug out early. IL
allowed, through careless, TO work MS way
into the body Of the tree, and 50 enscOucs
himself as to be beyond the reach oil wires
and other appliances, be will surely cause
make such progress when the grow
er is en- the alert fo- him, An
orchard that is kept well cultivated and
clean, into which the poultry have access, IS
not so liable to the attacks OF the borer s3 o
miserable, graSs-eAten batch of trees, and the
secret OF success in Delaware is due to the
fact the peach crop in that section is made a
special object, and receives the uRcsasing az.
tention OF the grower.
The next difficulty is the yeilows This is
disease, and is contagious. But, like the
diseases that attack individuals, the tree will
be free from its ravsges as long as the condi-
lions are favorable 10 their health. As the
human body is able to ward OF the attacks OF
disease, when N good condition, the came
may be applied to the peach tree. II neg
iected and i'll trea ted, il becomes weak ami
enfeebled the consequence being its liability
TO the yellOws, or aug other evil to which il
may be subjected. Most writers on the peach
at the present time attribute the yellows to
starvation, or rather. want OF potash; bat
the experiments in that direction teach that
potash, when applied after the trees have be-
come diseased, does Rot prevent its ravages,
the reason being, no donbt, that the trees can
not recupeTate after being attacked by the
yellows, but if annual application OF potash
salts or wood ashes be made and the soil kept
well cultivated, as IS done with corn, the diff
6culty from yellOws will be avoided and the
trees remain healthy.
1t may be possible that the cause OF then,i-
grafton of the peach is due TO an exhaustion
OF the soil. The elements essential 70 the
growth and health OF the trees being all sp.
propyiated, and nothing applied instead, new
locations are sought, until finally the oultiva-
ton is removed entirely to different sections
With an an8ual application of potash i !
some form, assisted By ground bone, lime and
small proportion OF nitrogen, With he free
ule of the cultivator in the orchard, there /.
no doubt that the peach can be made profit
able IN other sections than Delaware. GroS
eIs who have adopted the system Of thorougl
cultivation in New Jersey are surprised &
discover that the soil which they supposed
be unsuitable 10 peaches gives good results
and the fact is being demonstrated that, with
good care and management, the growing o
peaches Is not so difficult az il was supposed
to be.