The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-23
Horticultural Notes.

The largest peach tree in the United
States, and probably in the world,
stands in an orchard in Kent county,
Maryland, says the Homestead. The
trunk is about the size of barrel, be-
ing rs inches in circumference at the
base, or, say, about Is inches in diam
eter. A foot from the ground it is SIS
inches in circumference and at two
feet, Sc inches. The four primary limbs
starting at the crotch are from 25 to
80 inches each, and there is also one
secondary limb that is as large as a
ten year old tree. This mammoth peach
tree is Is years old. and, it is said, has
never missed a crop since it came into
bearing. 1t often over bears and then
breaks badly, for the wood is quite
brittle. 1t is one of the survivors of a
large orchard planted at the same time.
some of the others still remaining
measuring from four to five feet in
circumference.
The peach belt used to be a very
limited zone. 1t Is now greatly enlarg-
ed, however, and peaches can be grown
almost anywhere in the United States
II pains enough are taken to guard
against the unfavorable conditions
which affect the tree. and which are
different in different localities. Fifteen
years ago there were no peaches grown
in Georgia worth speaking Of: now
more than 5000 carloads are shipped
from that state to Northern markets
in ordinary seasons. In the Middle
West peaches were for a long time
thought to be impossible, but now a
great many horticulturists grow peach
es quite successfully. although before
they can Go it they have to learn how
to take precautions against severe win
ters.
A large proportion of those who plant
trees of various kinds have a great
deal to learn on the subject. This is
evident from the fact that while last
year over 250,0000 900 trees were sold,
only about half of them are living now,
and it is estimated that only one fruit
tree in every five that are planted ever
comes into bearing. A great many of
these trees, it should be remembered,
are planted by horticulturists of con-
siderable experience and their trees
usually live, while a great many others
having less knowledge of how it should
be done under the circumstances in
which they find themselves, are only
able to save very few trees out of
every hundred they plant. What be-
comes of all the nursery stock that is
sold each year is almost as much of
mystery as the old question, What
becomes of all the pins?"
Seedless Watermelons.- seedless
orange has long been favorite on the
market and the man who originally
produced it was as much of a benefac-
tor to his race as the frequently quoted
gentleman who makes two blades of
grass grow where only one grew be-
fore. To reinforce the seedless orange
now comes the seedless watermelon,
said to have been originated by a Col
orado man named Swink, who accom-
plished this wonderful feat in spite of
the fact that he was or had been a
state senator. Just how the trick was
done is not revealed to us, but reports
on the subject say that it is the result
of much microscopic examination of
the seeds, together with many expert
ments in planting melon seeds and dig
ging them up again after they were
partially terminated. Whether Sena-
tor Swink viii find the reward for his
labors in selling the new melon as a
novelty or whether he will remove to
some section of the country where
the African vote is large and will rely
upon it's gratitude to procure him po-
litical advancement as a compensation,
we are not advised. We do not know,
either, how the new discovery is to be
propagated. A seedless orange, when
found, can be grated or budded, but
how succulent annual vine, that pro-
duces melons without seed, is to con-
tinue it's kind, presents a somewhat
different problem.