St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-06-08
Peaches.

are shipped by hundreds OF carloads to all
our large cities, intermediate towns, where
they are eagerly sought after by all who
are able to buy. Were there anything like
an equal distribution, not one half the de-
mand would be supplied. Though millions
Of trees are set out annually, there is
hardly chance for overproduction. The
peach is said to have originated in Persia,
and hence warm climate is its natural
home. 1t is true, peaches do grow where
it is quite cold, but the quality is not of
best, and the crop very uncertain. One
year there may be fair crop; the next the
orchard will be but desolate wilderness
of dead trees. The peach borer puts In
his appearance, and requires strict atten-
ton in their season to save the trees The
yellows sweeps off great many trees every
year, in many places destroying whole or
chards, and if we mistake not, the true
causes have not yet been discovered, and
consequently the remedies are very uncer-
tain or utterly worthless. It is recon-
mended to cut and burn as fast as the dis
ease appears, but this does not prevent the
appearance of the disease the next season.
Theoretical experiments, SO far as we
know, have failed to reach the root OF the
evil. Again, even in warm climates the
crop may prove a partial failure from the
trees blossoming too soon, and are caught
in nipping frost. Uncommonly warm
weather early starts the crop to Towering,
the fruit buds hasten to expand, and cold
snap very essentially shorte MS the crop, 1t
it does not destroy it altogether. No dis
sastrous intervening evils Detailing the
trees, they are sure to bear most munifi-
Gently, often are too heavily loaded for
fair, large peaches. One other enemy, a
curculio, but whether the same as stlngs
plums we cannot say. Some trees have
very few stung, while on others nearly all
the peaches were wormy. One tree of
large, red-cheeked clingstones were nearly
all stung and worthless. With all these
enemies in active operation, we need not
| worry about overproduction, so any farmer
cap set out trees with a fair prospect of
being able to utilize all he can raise.
Chickens in the orchard will destroy
many of the curculio, and when the fruit
begins to drop, give the pigs the liberty of
the orchard-they eat the wind falls,
grow rapidly, and at the same time kill
the worms before they enter the gr9lnd to
undergo the metamorphosis. The killing
| frost of the North we cannot prevent, bu
we believe the too early poisoning at the
South may be retarded by murhing the
trees as far round as the roots extend,
when the ground is frozen. The mulch
| of straw or other material should be from
eight to ten inches thick, and must be al
lowed to remain until danger of frost is
past. The theory is that the mulch will
keep the ground too cold for free circu-
lation of sap, and thereby prevent prema-
ture blossoming and destruction of the
germ. The borer may, with frequent ex-
animation Of the trees, and killing the
| grub with a wire introduced into it's hole,
be kept down, and the trees saved. The
! yellows is a formidable enemy, and is
| open to the best brain and hand work of
entomologists and peach raisers and we
confidently expect this deadly disease will
yet be laid bare, and remedy be found.
| The trouble may originate in the roots or
in the branches-it may prove micros-
copic insect, or no insect at ALL and it may
be from diseased sap from the lack of the
right chemical food for the trees. We
strongl y suspect that the whole gist of the
matter is to keep the tree healthy. Health
IN animals is sure preventive of disease,
! possibly contagious diseases excepted, and
why not also in trees? The eiiology of
the diseases of trees and vegetables will
| probably give some earnest pupil grand
reputation, and bring to light vegetable
medicinal treatment now hidden in ignor-
ance. 1t was once thought the world was
stationary, that Fulton's boat would not
move up the Hudson like thing of life,
that the western continent would never be
settled more than hundred and fifty
miles inland, that the Erie canal was an
impossibility, that railroads and much
machinery now in use was the hallucina-
tions of cracked cranks. Man is progressive
knowledge does accumulate, and who
shall say that diseased vegetables will not
have physicians and surgeons. When the
worlds population shall be doubled they
will be needed. Why not some young
energetic and enthusiastic men and women
begin now to anticipate what the growing
shadows denote we shall need.
Ripe peaches are as healthy fruit a:
grows. We are not likely to increase the
production beyond the increase of popula-
ton. Therefore, let all farmers raise
peaches for man and beast. Set out liber
ally of the best improved varieties, boil
early and late, and thank the Lord vol
live in peach country.-R. K. Slosson
West Point, Mss.
The Nile more truly represents the ide'
| of the Hfather of waterS'' than any othe