St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-08-20
FRUIT RAISING IN ST. TAM
MANY PARISH.
PEACH cUNTlIRE. - !

- = PEACH CtiItTURE. -
II 81
It is : wondee that % few sood
peaches are grown In . region n
favorable as Louisiana is. A few
trees are planted about nearly ever,
dwelling these being seedlings
for the most part inferior fruit
10 this il to be added the objec'
ton, that though even the ,numbe,
Of trees i quite Large. the fruit al
ripen within three. q Ut most, foa,I
understanding Tor . 'bsief time .
glnt, leaving the owner without this
refreshing fruit during the hotties,
part Of the season, when the fruit
il the most grateful to the palate u
well rs the most conducive to the
health. With . selection Of the
proper varieties, the season may be
prolonged from the end OF May ia
beginning OF October, provided,
always. the tree is planted in soil
adapted to healthy growth, by which
is meant soil naturally or artiiici-
a!sY well drained.
The neAt important requisite Il
CULTIVATION.
The orchard should he cultivated
two or three times each season.
Frequent cultivation Is necessary
because the iibrous roots are 60
delicate a. to be unable to penetrate
. hard compact sotl. Cultivation
should not begin before the trees
have started into growth in the
spring rs it would cause the buds
to swell during the time when frosts
arc to he feared.
pEnriI.aZEn
must he used on poor land and
an excellent rule would be tn apply
one pound commercial fertilizer To
each tree for every ycar's gravtb,
or according to the age OF the tree.
The fertilizer should be lightly work
ed in. Apply fertilizer equally all
over . circle, the diameter Of which
Is equal 70 the height Of the tree.
Following have proved excellent
farmulas Of Commercial fertilizer:
For young trees mix the following
ingredients, 100 lbs. cotton seed
meal; 60 lbs acid phosphate and
80 lbs. kainit. And for hearing
trees, 10 lbs. cotton seed meal. 70
acid phosphate and 20 lbs. kainit.
The first formula will produce q
strong wood growth, and the second
contains the elements, Of fruit and
iced.
1t Is the production CT the seed
hat exhausts the soil and tree; the
tendency Ut the tree is to reproduce
tself, consequently, il the elements
hat produce seed aEs absent, good
'ruit is not to be expected. The
)eacl, will not thrive on wet soil.
L 1t Il desired to grow peaches In
0w alluvial soil, bitches not less
han three feet deep may be dug,
'Ot over 30 feet apart. aud rows Of
rees Is feet apart, which would
'lace trees u feet from the edge
4 the bitches, ? rows between =
litches in such = soil 20 feet dis
ance between trees in rows would
e about right.
On the pine hills Of st. Tam
many no bitches arc required. and |
5 feet each way is . good distance |
0 plant. PlOw and harrow the |
round well before planting. II
he soil is poor, prepare it the sea-
on before planting, be liberal with
our fertilizer. Plant sweet pota.
pes or cOwpeas, then in the fall,
fter crop is removed, pillow and
ut your ground in good condition;
ew grounds from which first crop
{ potatoes or peas have been Ia
en-, IL best.
do not plant the trees deeper
nan it stood before it was taken
p. Dig the hole sufficiently large
} accommodate all the roots with
ut cramping or bending. The
nth should be well worked and
uiverized. before being replaced
FOUND the roots. Always cover the
'0ts with top soil to afford nour-
hment. The soil placed on roots
ust be we'll packed gently with
'e foot, and the top, say six inch
!, left loose to absorb moisture.
n land described ~ ditclled land
ace the roots Of the tree on the ,
lrface Of the ground and cover
em in the same manner rs before
.scribed. The natural instinct Ut
e roots will be to shoot downward,
far rs the nature Of the soil will
.rmit.
The preparation Of the trees con-
its in removing with . sharp knife ,
dry. dead and broken rOOts-IS
t back Of living wood-plant inn +.
ediately without exposure to sun :
mr.. Next, remove all the branch :
entire, leaving only four or five =
ointment buds ut the top, equally
,tributed, to form the future head :,
the tree; after these buds have :
lde foot or more. some will be :
and more vigorous than the others .
nee, in order to avoid an uneven
balanced head, the strongest :
owth should be pinched back.
All sprouts out below these, =
4 especially those coming out !,
u