The National tribune., 1893-07-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers

Auo pcdCn crop mas now De9un 70 ripen, ana
as the peaches are gathered the results Of the
work during the early Spring begin to show.
1t the thinning was properly done and
the season has been favorable. the fruit should
be of large size and find a ready sale in the
markets. Intelligent growers say that the
drain on the tree Is much less in maturing .
crop of large-sizsd fruit than one where the
fruit is of small size. This is true because most
of the strength is taken in maturing the seed,
which is almost of the same size in the small
fruit as 1t is in the large. The maturing Of the
pnlp--saat is, the part used by us-does not
strain the tree, as it is almost all water. AS
soon as the fruit is well set the trees should be
gone over, and if the trees have more fruit on
them than they can mature all the smaller ones
should be thinned out giving the others .
better chance to grow. The peaches of inferior
size do not find ready sale either green or
dried, and are much more troublesome to
handle. The profit in this industry is made
by those who raise the best frnit and psy close
attention to the details of the work.
If the fruit is intended for market &c is not
gathered until it becomes mellow, while if it
is intended for drying il should be picked be-
fore 1t becomes soft, although IL is better that
it should get soft than be pulled while it Is
yet green. Fruit that is going to be dried may
be either gathered by hand or shaken from
the trees into pieces of canvas held by those
who are doing the work. Four men are neces-
sary to gather by the latter method. When
shaken the fruit should be taken to the drying
house at once, as the effect of the brusinS will
soon become noticeable and viii not disappear
when dried. All the peaches are sorted, three
grades being generally used. Peaches intended
for the market must be handled quickly, a.
they are very perishable. Growers in the East
generally consign their crops to commission
merchants in the large cities, who get per-
centage on the sales. The later peaches are
sent to market packed in baskets holding about
one-half bushel. These baskets are packed Ia
cars which are especially arranged for them.
An average carload is reekoned at about 600
baskets, or 300 bushels. In many sections OF
Delaware peaches are the chief crop, and dur
ing the hours between and in the morn
ing the stations along the railroads present
scene of great activity. The peach cars are
made into trains, and go direct to the large
cities. Those shipped in frsight-cars from
Delaware arrive in Boston on the second day,
and are distributed from there to the surround
ing towHs The fancy peaches that arrive in
the early season are handled in an entirely
different way. They are packed in boxes hold
ing about one peck, and each peach is wrapped
separate. Some of these early peaches come
from Georgia by express, and part from the.
mountains of Maryland They sell very high.
and are nothing compared with the quantities
q
OF all fruits there are mons more Variable
than the peach crop. The grower is never GER
tain of any profit until the fruit is gathered.
The blight may appear at any time and in
few days the whole crop will be ruined 0fIats
years much good has been done by spraying,
but as few growers spray to any Gz extent
the general crop is still very uncertain. To
secure fine, healthy trees. which essential to.
good fruit the ground around the trees should
be kept mellow by frequent cultivation, and
no weeds allowed to grow. All rubbish in the
orchard should be burned or removed as much
of the trouble with peach trees is caused by the
insects which are harbored in these old
branches and weeds.
Each year the new growth is cut back; the
strong shoots are cut back one-third, the weak
ones one-half and all sickIy ones are cut out
altogether. The head of the tree is thus kept
round with good supply of bearing wood In
most orchards the trunk of the tres is not al
lowed to exceed three feet in hight.
When planting the trees should be pruned
severely. Many do not do this for fear of iDjur-
ing the tree but not to prune is greater in
jury than too severe pruning, as the drain on
the tree supporting so much top stunts it for
the rest of its life. if it does not kill it st first
The main stem should be cut back one-third
and the side ones to one bud.