Arizona republican., 1898-06-28
THE PEACH.

 Bettler's treatises on horticulture. 1t should be borne in mind if anything he says seems to be too sanguine of the possibilities of this valley that he has forty acres of practical demonstration I on the Tripell ranch at the southeast corner of Mesa:
 The peach has proven itself one of our most important fruits. It IS adapted to various climatic conditions. Yet there is no clogging of the market with a first class peach either fresh CT dried.
 When one sees the small half-ripen- ed article that is too common in onr market, 1t would lead one to conclude that this valley is not adapted to thls fruit. but after careful survey of the orchards, noting the care given them, we then wonder that the trees surViVe, let alone the production of it's kind. The same rules applicable to the apri- cot in reference to selection of soil and cultivation hold good with the peach Various root stocks have been partly tested but my judgment still rests with the peach root. Holding the view that cramp culture destroys the vitality of the tree it would be well to select seed that is pure. Too little at tention has been given this point. Heretofore we have been planting dis eased trees and from these reproducing others Can we wonder at thelr early decay7 Too much attention cannot h. given at the commencement. To start well gives one hope to end well. We have the disease crown knot to contend with but with proper care the d seas2 can be hsid in check. Vigilance is emphaticaily necessary. We have many varieties to select from and as has been already demonstrated we can have a continuous supply of fresh fruit from May to December, but this article will deal almost entirely with one va riety-the Muir. This is done from the fact that this peach stands at the head for drying purposes. This tree after it has been properly formed at the end Of the first years growth needs but little pruning. A very important point is thinning the fruit. This should be done before the pits harden, just as soon as the fruit is well set Thin the peaches from four to six inches apart picking off the smaller and deformed fruit Never leave two DtdCu6S SIOWluS lOSClHCl AittiC cbe- tention has been given this point in this valley and the results of peach growing consequently have not been very fattering. We grow pits instead of peaches. quickly robbing the soil of its strength, the tree of its vitality Then comes decay. A diseased tree cannot produce first class fruit but on the other hand places in our market an article unfit for use-just as much to be condemned as diseased meats.
 It is a study and rests entirely with the individual grower when and how to apply the water. Soils differ widely and one must be governed accordingly. Unless you can get the water deep into the soil you will fail in peach culture. Quick irrigations soon puts you out of the line of fruit producers. We are very young in our application of wa ter to fruit production. If our experi- mental stations would apply them selves to the development of a few points of usefulness and do away with much of the rubbish in the form of bulletins we would have much need ed assistance. Many of these publica tions are as valuable to the farmer as a nickel novel would be to the student of history.
 Clean cultivation is not always good cultivation. Some Of these so-called clean orchards are in far worse condi tion than those covered with various weeds where one has to blaze his way to a tree The latter approaches near CT the point of equal moisture through nature. Unless one intends to fol- low fruit culture scientifically, pers st. ently and intelligently, better drop it; join the hog raisers and raise alfalfa.
 Deep cultivation is essential to neu tralize the effects of the alkali in our soil. Flooding hardens and destroys the soil unless followed by good culti- vation- One need but watch the growth of any plant to understand this point.
 In conclusion we can truthfully state that ten acres of Muir peaches we'll handled win bring to the grower handsome returns. Together with ten