Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-20

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and how the buds are slowly maturing, !
and the little rootlets under ground are !
daily becoming more steadfast. The frost
works down in the roots, Hberating those
foods planted there for the proper nour-
ishment Of the trees in spring. And II the
trees are as they should be when possible,
on the hilltops and ridges, the same frost
will keep back the buds and not until
danger from that source is past win they
appear.
But you may train q child TO a
finish, still that child has got to have
good, healthy food fed at proper times
and amounts and IN proper shape. or It
is a failure. Cultivation with some soils
will save a peach orchard. But most soils,
whilst they may be able to bring tree up
in fair shape to its first crop. need to be
supplied If lacking. with the humus that
nature digests and feeds the rootlets that
start the sap, that carries the hfe-blood
through the body. limb. leaf and fruit
Nature, with her agents, light heat, rain
and frost. disintegrates and renders sol
uble a great amount of plant food. es-
pecially If the field has been properly cul-
tivated through the proper season. But
the great fact remains that much is TO be
done before the grower reaches the acme
of delight. seeing his trees loaded with a
fine crop of fine sun-gilded peaches. We
find thousands of peach trees that have
shed their entire fruitage this year. Now
for the cause and remedy:
It seems to me, II we remember that
nature in all of her animal and vegetable
life, is constantly seeking to reproduce
herself; the wild rose on the hilltop and
prairie is her work and brings forth a
modest flower, but has the seed for re-
production. But the florist produces thou
sands of beautiful flowers by his art. that
by ordinary course Of nature fails to per-
70 a
tain tops with the little plum peach, and
its seed will bring plum peach; but the
fruit from a grand liberia seed. planted,
Is a Barnum's What is ftp
Going a step farther: She cares only for
the pit that she may 80 on forever. bring
ing forth plum peaches, or the Indian or
some similar natural variety She cares
nothing for the luscious pulp. that Is only
to be compared TO the matdenns cheek by
the poet, and many not poets. ween. (.
Man seeks to, and does. by hyDrtdizing,
fertilizing, budding, grating. and all hts
arts, produce the grandest fruit or the
world. But he forgets that nature. after
all, has to do the growing leaves and
limbs-her lungs-wiu not meet the
fruition Of his desires. Nature makes the
pit covered with it's little green skin. and
when she finds the fountain of tactical
fluid dries up very properly drops the
stunted seed and puts all her energies into
growing leaves and limbs-her lungs-for,
as the Scotchman says, "She mony live"
Now, from these facts the orchardist
should draw his lesson, for after Mother
Nature does the truest teaching. II the
food is supplied. the tree win grow the
full ripe peach just as readily as a limb.
I well remember, when a boy, seeing my
father take his carefully boarded hard 4
wood ashes from the long winters pro- 1
duction and, drawing them into the peach
orchard, scatter them literally over eaon
peach tree. He never failed, except IRON !
frost, OF having full peach crop.
Now, we find by analysis that 1,00 :
pounds OF the peach tree wood and
branches contain nine pounds OF nitro
gen, % pounds phosphortc acios ana
pounds OF potash Also. that the peach
stones and pits are especially rich In pot
ash; their ash Analysing as high as SzlS
per cent. potash to 40 per cent. nitro
gen, and 2OS4 per cent, phosphoric acid-
ANALYSIS of Tennessee fruit by J. =. East
wood Phi. d.
If. then. the tree needs-and notwith- i
standing the report Of one of our govern
rnent officials, who says In his letter, now /
before me- that "it is a common fallacy
to seek from analysis Of soil and tree
what fertilizers are needed' (well, don't 4
agree with him)-if that peach tree
and especially the fruit and pits, demands
a larger amount OF potash, think, II the
soil shows a deficiency, you, the grower,
have to supply IT. The how and what
don't believe that any one man can dis-
cover for all, but may say q WORD tnal
puts the grower studying his soil and con-
ditions that he may provide the remedy.
First. I believe the old plan Of using
hardwood ashes is the best peach tree Ter
tilizer known for most soils, and that we
can afford to pay a fair price for them
They should be cultivated in June so thai
he rfad
rains and rendered soluble to be taken up
by the root feeders. They should not De
dumped around the body or root or lhe
tree. but be scattered in a circle out as far
as the roots may extend. 1t should be put
out early so that the new growth-Wnicn,
of course, produces the bud for the next
years peach-can receive the benefit OF y.
Now. I am aware that this ash crop
Is limited. but With its potash, lime. anu
phosphoric acid IT is nearly perfect. ana
If so, let US seek to duplicate II. ~
not think we ought to use murtate o.
potash, but the sulphate Of potash. being
cooler and less liable TO work injury y
applied too strongly. Nor do believe i
best TO put any fertilizer when planting
a tree. A little, then, can be made soiu-
Bile and at once taken up, but not by any
means a large quantity to become
encysted about the root. as 1 have seen
II, and to become a detriment instead o.
valuable assistant.
I have seen orchards where too mucn i
nitrogen had been applied, and the I'M
mepse amount Of brush is simply loau
and should be trimmed down TO moaese
proportions. But l will try and conhno
myself to my subject. To conclude. thor
ough tillage from early spring till August
for young trees, and until fruit IN Ine
way Of older trees-grOund plowed, iasl ,
blowing for young trees so as not 70
wash Fertilizer: AS near the wood ASH
as possible, spread over the ground anu
titled in a little fine ground bone Wneh
tree il. planted. Every season better the
fertilizer and apply early. and the larger
tne fruit crop will be. Remember pos
ash is the main ingredient needed BE
prodigal with it, that your eturns may De 7
IN y,y-ororffon-