The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1905-09-21
STUDIES IN TREES AND PLANTS
The liberia Peach Ia the Counties OF Ia
ney and Stone.
by TRUMAN 8. POWELL.

by TRUMAN 8. POWELL.
Fourteen years ago the writer was
particularly desirous Of obtaining gen.
uiue samples OF the Elberta
The peach, In order TO expert.
liberia msn: in propagating 1t ih
Peach the rough hills near the apex
of the Ozark up-lift in the
county OF Stone. Failing In getting
them from the various nurseries, at
last hit upon the plan OF writing direct
to the Howell county fruit larm at
Olden, this state, asking for few cions
by mail. This seemed like rather
cheeky thing TO do, but being all this
time an editor, and accustomed as edit
ors sometimes are, Though seldom, /
admit, to do cheeky things, l wrote to
these people at Olden and enclosed
as I thought stamps enough for post
age.
In due time the cions came and l had
them at once budded upon common
peach seedlings. The next spring l
was able 10 set out on the top Of one Of
the highest and most gravelly ridges,
about twenty young and vigorous peach
trees. All grew. Then followed a
chapter OF accidents. First tree was
uprooted and killed by culivating corn
TOO close TO it. Next another was cut
of in an unfortunate time--dark OF the
moon In August-and died OF course, as
1t ought. Next came forest fire. II
crept in In the night and got the fence
near by, and killed the trees down 10
nine. Rather discouragiug; but the
nine lived and grew and waxed great,
and the third year from planting bore
a few dozens of real Elberta peaches.
And such peaches. They were indeed
a revelation OF possibilities to come.
BY this time the trees had begun 10
show the characteristics OF Elberta
trees. All of them we're smooth -barked,
green aud vigorous, and made splen.
did growth. The next year we got q
much larger crop and among them we
found number that weighed a pound
apiece. The color was lovely, the fla-
vor was winsome, and they had all the
features Of an ideal peach.
During the fourteen years since plant
ing | have had seven fair crops, which,
taking out the first three years, Is not
SO bad: In fact seven crops in eleven
years is as good as we ought TO expect.
The last crop came year before last.
We got few last year and very few
this year. will give particulars Of
that crop. On the nine trees we had
45 bushels of peaches, an average Of
five bushels 10 the tree. The average
weight Of these peaches was a hall
pound each.
Now / will tell you few peculiar
facts about the Elberta peach; and as
we now have railroad within reach II
will be well TO pay attention:
LIST. My trees are fourteen years old
from the time Of planting, are almost
twenty feet high and from six TO ten
inches through the body OF the tree and
still show no signs Of age or decay.
"a. With all the weight that has
been carried by these trees there is not a
broken limb in sight and there never
has been. When the limbs or twigs
are broken they break like hickory and
do not snap oil like the limbs Of com.
mon peaches. Two generations Of peach
tries have come and gone Lived their
time and died Of old age-and these are
still yonDg and in all respesis fresh and
strong.
3D.. IL is known that borers hurt and
sometimes kill peach trees. In the