The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1904-08-25
SPLENDID PAPER BY
LOUIS A BERCKMAN'S
AuGusTAN WON HIGH PRAISE FOR HIMSELF BY
PAPER HE READ BEFORE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.


at the Georgia Horticultural Society
convention recently held at Tallulah, was
that upon Cultural Methods With the
Peach" by MIR. 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 follows:
Cultural Methods with the Peach"
(By l.. a. Berclimans Augusta. Ga.)
We will consider two important points
already settled; the site for the orch
ard has been chosen; selection OF the
varieties made, therefore, proper prep
araton 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 fertll-
ity could be reduced by planting 1t in
corn or some other exhaustive crop for
year; however. II it Is old and worn
out. II should be restored to a state OF
fertility before setting out The trees. The
land should he broken up to the proper
depth with two-horsc plow: followed
with a subsoll pillow, II necessary Sow
In 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
pluwins and suhso!ling broadcast or dril
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 or March break
up the pea vines by running over the
ground with a Cuttaway harrow. then
turn under with good turn plow. AZ
the depth OF the top soil has been In
creased. the land can be plowed to
greater depth than at the previous plow-
ing. subsoil again. II necessary; and N
November your land is ready for the
orchard.
Another excellent mode OF preparation
is To SOW in crimson clover in Septcm
b,l first hroadcasting with stable ma
uurc or applying good commercial fer
tiiHor. Plow under the clover in May
suhsoil. and SOW in peas. All peach
lands should b. thoroughly and deeply
p!owod. because after the trees are
planted and are in growth they cannot
he pluwcd deeply. All places in IN"
orchard where the top soil has been
washed away, should receive careful and
special attention. such places are do
void of humus, and this must be sup
Piled 10y a liberal application OF stabl"
manure or compost. and should hc put
in peas or clover. which must be plowcd
under in March. In two years time 10y
treating as above mentioned these dc
pl,tcd parts of the orchard can be made
very fertile.
Planting.
Check or the land Mt the proper dis
tauc"s. using n good two horse turn
plow. at the Intersection dig hole
two feet square, throwing the top soil To
side, use a liberal amount of well
dccomposcd stable manure TO each hole.
have this thorouShly Incorporated with
the soil II stable manure IS not avail
able then use from J to lbs OF hone
meal, or ;he same quantity of mixture OF
two parts acid phosphate to one part
cotton seed meal. When using chemical
fertilizers the best results are attained
hy first setting the tree IN the hole nn
up the hole one half its d pth. and then
apply the fertilizer but mixing it thor
oughly with the soil; firm the earth well
about the roots OF the tree and level of;
Cultivation.
After the trees have put out a growth
nf l 1-2 to ? inches rub on all but three
grow rs. and these should be SO distriuh
uted about the tree so that Z, will bc
We'll balanced. The early rubbing or OF
the surplus growth cannot he too thor
cughly emphasized 1t is great saving
of time to do this rubbing of before the
young growth becomes toush, f; Is also