The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-01-03
Peach Growing In the South.

United States where some Of the nu'
merous varieties Of this delicious fruit
cannot be successfully grown.
During the present year by far the
largest crop Of this fruit ever pro-
duced here has been marketed with
more or less Of profit to the growers.
Over large areas insect depredationa
and fungoid diseases have proved es-
pecially disastrous, yet, taking the
country as a whole, while there is
nothing to encourage eXtravagant
hopes of profit, it may be safely said
that there is nothing to suggest dis
couragement.
So far as many portions of the South
are concerned. the outlook for peacn'
growing is unusually hopeful. Hither-
to we have had everything to encour-
age the industry, except one, and that
is a nearby sale for the fruit. Just
now, in a quiet way, and in great
many places, an industrial revolution
Is in progress which promises to
change all this. The markets are conf
ing this way. Every cotton factory,
every mill, every furnace or foundry
or machine shop Of any kind means
more mouths to feed and more home
demand for fruit, and when that
good time coming" is here, it will be
here to stay, and the day Of giving
two-thirds OF every bushel of peaches
grown to the railroads and trusting
luck" and commission men for the
other third, will only be remembered
as an unhappy incident Of early and
bye-gone days.
Whenever, therefore, the rapid
growth of cities, especially manufac.
turing cities, promises home market,
the peach grower may consider mig
prospects especially good, and those
who are first to take advantage OF
such favorable conditions may expect
the largest rewards.
Those who are contemplating the
planting Of new peach orchards can.
not be too careful in the selection OF
soil, preparation of the ground, and
the choice of varieties to be grown. So
far as the first Is concerned, a sandy
loan with 4 clay subsoil and good
drainage give best results. The prep
aration Of the soil can hardly be toe
thorough. If the ground selected has
been previously cultivated, it should
be we'll plowed, narrowed, and, If moi
already rich, moderately fertilized N
the late summer or autumn before The
trees are set. If a crop Of cow peas
has just been grown on the land sc
much the better. 4 great deal depends
on the way the trees are planted. This
Work should never be trusted to or
binary farm laborers. Healthy and
vigorous trees year old should be
selected, shortened in to not more thar
two feet of stem to encourage low
branching. A good soaking Of water
should be given at the time Of planting
and a mulch Of straw, pine needles o,
some other moisture holding material
should at once be applied.
Those who plant q peach orchard
with the expectation that it will care
for itself after it is set out, had bet
ter abandon the business before they
begin. No fruit tree responds more
promptly to care and proper culture
or is more certain to resent inattep'
ton and neglect Clean culture, abun'
dant fertilization, careful and system.
attic pruning and a vigilant and dc
termined fight with insect pests and
fungoid diseases are the essential con
ditions of a favorable result.
The selection Of proper varieties fol
any given locality is also a matter re-
Quiring the utmost care. Almost every
peach growing region has special eli
matte and other conditions, wh,ca
make it unwise to depend upon the
advice Of men at distance. The cT'
perience Of local growers Is always
worthy of attention, and generally te
be preferred to those which, hoWeve!
good 4 showing they may make else
where, have yet TO prove their fitness
for the particular region for which the
selection is TO be made.
Probably the greatest mistakes that
are likely to be made by peach grow
ers are in the matter OF fertilization
The peach tree is blessed with vlgor
Gus appetite and it will consume and
make profitable use Of about all tke
plant food that the most liberal grow
er will supply. OF course, no general
prescription will answer for all soils
but in most cases 4 half pound or 81
Of g. fertilizer containing four OF Gve