The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-08-25

that upon Cultural Methods With the
Peach" by Mr. Louis A. Berckmans. of
Fruitland Nursery.
Since the convention dissolved Mr..
Berckmans has received many applica-
tions for copies, some from distant
states, and as Georgia is now becoming
the leading peach producing state. our
fruit growing friends. as well as many
other readers will appreciate the docu-
ment in full.
1t was as follows:
Cultural Methods with the PEACH"
(By L. A. Berckmans, Augusta, Ga.)
We will consider two important points
as already settled; the site for the orch
ard has been chosen; a selection OF the
varieties made. therefore, proper prep
aration OF the land should be the first
point considered
Preparation Of the Land.
II the land is fresh and has just been
cleared it should be cultivated at least
two years in cotton or some other crop
adapted to the locality. Should this new
land be too rich for peaches. the fertIl-
ity could be reduced by planting 1t in
corn or some other exhaustive crop for
year: however. II 1t is old and worn
fertility before setting out the trees. The
land should be broken up to the proper
depth with a two-horse plow: followed
with a subsoil plow. II necessary. Sow
I'm crimson clover. cow peas or plant
potatoes or some other crop which will
require fertilization. In late winter turn
under the cover crop Excellent results
have been derived from the following
treatment:
After the land has received the proper
plowing and subsoiling broadcast or drill
in peas in May, using one bushel to the
acre. $50 to 200 pounds OF good fertilizer
per acre will materially increase the
growth. In February March break
up the pea vines by running over the
ground with n Cuttaway harrow, then
turn under with good turn plow. AS
the depth OF the top soil has been in
creased. the land can be plowed to a
greater depth than at the previous plow-
ing. subsoil again, II necessary; and IN
November your land is ready for the
orchard.
Another excellent mode OF preparation
is to in crimson clover in Septem-
be,. first broadcasting with stable ma
nure or applying good commercial fer
tilizer. Plow under the clover in May,
SUISOll ana SOW IN peas. All peacn
lands should be thoroughly and deeply
p!owed because after the trees are
planted and are in growth. they cannot
he powed deeply. All places in the
orchard where the top soil has been
washed away, should receive careful and
special attention, such places are de-
void OF humus. and this must be sup
piled by a liberal application OF stable
he
in peas or clover. which must be plowed
under in March, In two years time by
treating as above mentioned, these de-
pleted parts OF the orchard can be made
very fertile.
Planting.
Check on the land az the proper dis
tances. using n good two horse turn
plow. At the intersection dig a hole
two feet square. throwing the top soil to
one side, use a liberal amount Of well
decomposed stable manure to each hole
have this thoroughly incorporated with
the soil; II stable manure is not avail
able then use from ! to lbs. OF bone
meal, or the same quantity OF mixture OF
two parts acid phosphate to one part
cotton seed meal. When using chemical
fertilizers the best results are attained
by first setting the tree I'm the hole. fil
up the hole one half Its depth, and then
apply the fertilizer but mixing 1t thor
oughly with the soil; firm the earth well
about the roots OF the tree and level off
Cultivation.
After the trees have put out a growth
of 1-2 to 2 inches rub OF all but three
growths, and these should be so distriub-
uted about the tree so that 1t will be
we'll balanced. The early rubbing off of
the surplus growth cannot be too thor
cughly emphasized 1t is a great saving
of time to do this rubbing off before the
young growth becomes tough. 1t Is also
not so severe a shock to the tree The
trees should be gone over once or twice
during the growing season and all sIl-