The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-24
Glle Sarmer.
For the Democratic Advocate.
Peach Culture in Carroll County.

For the Democratic Advocate
Peach Culture in Carroll County.
There are few persons in this locality who do not
regard the peach the most delicious fruit that we
have yet hold it to be the most tickle The manner
in which it is cultivated, have no doubt has much
to do with the verdict of fickleness Very few per-
sons who grow this luscious fruit give it anything
like the chance it is entitled to. In majority, and
very large majority of cases it is sadly neglected
The farmers buy their trees dig hole half large
enough, place them in carelessly, and without any
support to keep them in place, and keep the wind
and storm from breaking and constantly twisting
the roots they are left to take their chance Sup
pose you were careless with your crops OF grain
and roots, what would you expect to harvest? The
common ant is one of the worst enemies the peach
tree has in our locality. Nothing gives them
better opportunity to harbor around and infest the
tree than the careless growth of grass and weeds
allowed to accumulate around it, During the sum-
mer months if you will show me peach tree that
the leaves are turning yellow and shriveling up,
will show you on that tree an army of these little
insects busily engaged in sapping away its life,
You may have to look below the surface but they
are there. wind shake or bruise on the tree,
will make an opening large enough for one of these
little insects to secree itselfin. As the wood around
This place becomes diseased it becomes the habita
ton of smaller insects and the fact that the wood is
decaying matter the ant subsists upon IT, in part,
and though the opening at first is only large enough
for one ant that one makes large enough for two
The two make it large enough for few more, and
at that ratio in a years time one hundred may be
safely housed in the same aperture. The sap then
begins to exude the tree becomes delicate and after
awhile dies. That is the owners fault. Why did
he not examine the tree in time break up this ant
harbor? keep the grass away? keep the ground
firmed down with his foot? The borer is another
enemy of this fruit Take your knife and dig him
out and plaster up the hole with tar and put ashes
around the tree-leeched wood ashes.
The yellows also, is considered the greatest enemy
the peach has 1t is a contagious disease just as
much so with peaches smallpox is with the
human family This is disease upon which few
persons will venture to express themselves as it is
not as well understood it should be- yet there can
he no doubt this disease originates in the seed of
the peach and is freely disseminated throughout
the country by nurserymen who do not know how
to keep it out of their stock Most of the trees sold
are affected with this disease before they leave the
nursery. l know OF but one well established nur-
sery that for a number of years has made large
sale of peach trees and never sent out with the
yellows There may be some others but do not
| know them Another thing that has operated
against peach culture is the fact that so many think
it is essential to plant them in protected position,
where the warm morning sun will strike them.
This is entirely wrong. They should be planted on
northern exposure, or northwestern, or on top oil
hill. Never plant them in low ground. 1t is money
and labor lost. New ground, even though the soil
is thin, is well adapted to peach culture. | now
sneak with reference to Carroll county. A remedy
has been discovered for yclows that is said TO be
infallible 1t is said that one half pound Of fish
phosphate placed around each tree, cures the vel
lows and prevents its spread AS it's distributed by
pruning if the party will grease his knife and saw
with a mixture composed of one quart OF hnseed
oil and fluid ounces of crude earbonic acid 1t
will act as preventative He must be careful,
however. as ii is a poison. will give my plan for
| planting out one hundred peach trees. Dig the
holes 90 feet square by is inches Deep loosen the
dirt in the bottom; then fill in to the depth you want
your tree. This depth should be the same that
was in the nursery; cut smoothly al broken and
bruised roots; then prepare puddle OF mud ana
dip the roots of each tree in IL until well coated;
then place the tree where you want it, and as you
shovel in the soil mix well the top and bottom and
mix with it little thoroughly decomposed wood
| pile or chip manure with Il sprinkling of leeched
wood ashes jar the tree and gently raise and lower
it. so the wood will all be in contact with the soil
/
half the dirt is in pour in one quart of water, and
tramp the dirt lightly you the surface; split
wood from to feet long and stake each tree tying
IL with some soft substance, such bark, old rags
or something of soft character, TO prevent brnsine
| or cutting the bark. Split wood is suggested fol
stakes, because, when the stakes have the bark on
! it makes harbor for insects that may depredate
upon the trees 1t would at least make one for ants
If / did not stake, 1 would bank up the earth at
least one foot above the surface, 10 hold the tree in
place and prevent the wind from shaking the root
I and iniuring them. Thisbank can be removed afte'
the tree has had one seasons growth and becomes
| firmly rooted. In trunsplaut.ng peach trees, they
should be well cut back or reduced Each branch
should be cut back to within or buds of the base
This then gives the good start, and when the
top or head begins to grow it keeps on and hastily
develops The lower you branch the trees the better
They will be stronger more healthy less liable Il
attacks of disease and insects and will grow twice
as fast and produce more fruit than those that ART
trimmed up to long, naked. stems. The fruit Will bt
much more easily gathered and less cultivation OF
the ground will be required, as the grass will no
grow so freely beneath them. In preparing ground
for an orchard subsoi if possible as it Will be ~
advantage to the roots of the trees. The propei
distance TO plant peach trees is 10 feet each way
There is growing demand for the peach every
year, and that demand mas not Deeh suppiieu slhce
| fruit canning has become such important factor
in the commercial interests ofthis country. In th
1 connection we will not overlook the eyaporatine
process as it is growing rapidly into public favor
The peach makes quicker return than any othei
! fruit trees we grow. Three years from planting q
| fair crop may be gathered Should the trees live
and prosper years they will pay better than any
other crop you can raise. At 10 by II, 200 can be
grown on an acre. Allow the trees TO live year
and YOU can certainly calculate 10 bushels as the
entire product of each tree. These peaches, il
properly handled will bring from sl50 to $500 pei
bnshel But suppose they bring but 81 per bushel,
that wouh make $40 per tree, or s2OO0, Deduct
one half of this amount for expenses and you have
| 81 OcO clear for yonr one acre of ground for Z
wears. But some will say, "this estimate is high,
Well suppose it is suppose cut it down one-hale
that would reduce it $500 clear for your one acre
in wears Now deduct interest for the land
rated at $50 per acre and price of trees. and you
have $50 per acre each year for your land. AT the
same time to farm this acre in potatoes or beans
will yield profit and be an advantage to the fruit
| ANY one of experience i'll these matters will see
that my estimate is too low
The apricot approaches very near the peach and
requires the same cultivation
fperons interested in fruit culture Will Fead this
article. and profit thereby, the writer will have ae
complished his purpose. Or lift serves to create IN
interest in the same, he will be gratihed. and Is
oute sure that by adheriug strictly to it peach eu
| ture can be made profitable in Carroll county.
+ LOVER OF THE PEACH.
~ Dor a he