The Green Forest tribune., 1903-12-05
HOW TO GROW PEACH TREES
By AsSista mt Horticu1tura1ist of
 Missouri Experiment Station.

THE TRIBUNE looks upon peach growing as the greatest factor for the development of the great possibilities in fruit growing in this country and we feel that any space we may devote to the sub- ject of peach growing is well filled and we hope our readers will not only read them with interest but will act wisely and keep for future reference all such as the follow ing from the pen of Prof. w. l.. Howard of the Missouri Experi- ment station which appeared in recent issue of the Practical Fruit Grower o Springfield:
 Great care should be exercised in handling trees before planting. The roots should not be allowed to be exposed to the sun any more than can be helped and neither should they be in the wind if the day happens to be cloudy. Sun and wind acting together quickly dry out and greatly in jure the root of the peach. A prominent fruit grower was asked how long it was safe to leave the roots of the peach exposed. The answer was, ''about as long as you can hold your head under water.o This was forcible illustration, and while not literal- ly true, serves to emphasize the importance of protecting the roots. While the roots of apple trees are also injured by exposure to sun and wind, they will stand worse treatment i'll this respect than peaches.
 Immediately upon receiving trees from the nursery they should be unpacked and heeled ill. Dig trench ten or tw elve inches deep with one sloping side. Place the trees in the trench leaning them well over and co yer the roots with soil. Give tn em plenty of room where they are neeled in so that all of the roots will come into contact with the earth and be kept moist and green.
 A sled is the best vehicle with which to haul the trees to the field, being low and convenient, but an ordinary farm wagon may be used. Pack wet straw around the roots while the trees are being moved. In setting, two men should work together, perhaps assisted by boy if the trees are in a wagon. One man prunes the tree, top and root, as described, while the other digs the hole. The root system belng ill sight. he knows exactly how deep the hole should be and thus no tune is lost by having to fill in or dig deeper after trying the tree. The trees should be set at the same depth it grew in the nursery. One man should hold it in an up-. right position while the other shovels in some fresh soil and works it about the roots with his hands. This process is very ma terially aided by slightly cnurn- ing the tree up and down, which causes the loose, friable soil to settle into all of the crevices.
 When the earth is packed under the roots as we'll as over them, pack down well with the foot. When approximately level with the top of the ground, tramp firm ly. Before leaving the tree, spread thin layer of loose soil around it to prevent the ground from baking.
 After the trees are planted go over the orchard and protect them with wooden veneer wrap pers, using those twelve inches long and sticking eacn wrapper into the ground one or two ln- ches. in putting on the wrap pers wind them loosely about the tree so as, to leave q space about
 two and one half inches in di :
 ameter for the trees to stand in. This will permit of free circuia- ton of ar and the bark will not
 be injured ill the least. The wranuara are very useful for