The Columbus journal., 1896-05-13
MichiEan's Fruit lnstitute.
FrOm Farmers Review Special Re
p0rt.)

pOFtJ
On Wednesday morning Mr.. Morrill,
continued his talk upon peach growing.
discussing the "Cultivation and Care of
the Orchard" He advocated giving up
the land to the trees after the first
year, but favored using the land for
one year for some cultivated crop that
would draw upon the land after the
first of August, as it would aid In ripen-
ing the trees. The orchard should be
plowed in the spring as shallow as pos
sible, n should receive q frequent
dragging up to the middle Of August.
By the use of a smoothing harrow or
weeder. fifteen or twenty acres can be
gone over in a day, and the dust mulch
thus formed will do much to hold the
moisture through a season of drouth.
The first spring he recommended that
the strong shoots be headed back, SO
as to give the weaker mes a chance
to develop, all surplus branches being
removed. After the first year cut back
the new growth from 0ne-half to two
thirds, beginning at the top and trim
ming ont all weak and dead shoots
along the branches. By thus shorten
ing the shoots the danger Of breaking
down of the branches will be lessened
and il will be much easier to thin and
pick the fruit. Unless pains are taken
to remove the extra shoots 1t will be
better not to head back, as the tree top
will be too thick. Do the pruning early
in the spring, before the buds start, to
prevent the exhaustion of the tree by
developing an excess of pollen.
The thinning Of the fruit should be
done before pit formation begins, as, II
delayed until the pit hardens. 1t will
be a serious drain upon the trees. BY
thinning the fruit at this time SO that
they will stand six or eight inches
apart, the full vigor will be thrown
into those remaining and the crop will
be larger and Of much greater value
than if not thinncd. A large tree will
often need to have from 5000 to 1000
peaches taken from it. To properly
prune and thin an eight-year-old peach
orchard takes about seventeen and one
half days per acre.
Mineral manures are particularly de-
sirable for peach orchards. Stable
manure is not desirable for good peach
land, but may be used to advantage
upon light sands. Wood ashes and
ground bone make q complete fertilizer
for the peach. They make the fruit
buds harder and the peach cling closer.
SO that the loss in high winds is great
ly lessened. In some soils there seems
to be an abundance Of potash and wood
ashes are reported as producing no 'ef-
feet.
By mounding up the trees in the fall
the formation of ice about the collar
can be prevented, and IL it is leveled
down in July any eggs or young borers
can be readily destroyed. II washes are
used care should be taken that they
are properly prepared. as much loss has
been caused by the application Of wash
es that were highly commended. but
proved SO strong as to destroy the trees
Too great care cannot be given to
searching for and destroying trees az
fected with the yellows. Trees with a
single branch showing the disease are
often kept until the fruit is gathered,
Uul lulS 10 uuS0ACs 90 u may CPACou SaC
disease to the surrounding trees. II
removed as soon as any indication Of
the disease a be seen In the fruit It
is likely that no harm will follow to the
surrounding trees. 1t is possible that il
properly employed Bordeaux mixture
may prevent the spread Of this dread
disease, as many peach growers who
have sprayed their trees to prevent curl
leaf and rot report that they have not
had yellows. while there has been a
considerable loss where trees have not
been sprayed.
The third talk of Mr.. Morrill, wa
upon Marketing Peaches" The sue
cessful fruit-grower Of today must, in
addition to a practical knowledge of
the business. have q knowledge Of the
that relate to the soil and
He must, above all, be . good
All Is profit above the fixed
and as these r largely the