Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-03-29
agricultural.
HELP FOR PEACHGROWERs.

The Department of Agriculture has
just made public bulletin on improve
ments in peachgrowing, prepared by g
+. Warren, of the New Jersey Expert
ment Station, in view of what he calls
the rapid decline in the peach indus
try in New Jersey, as we'll in Delaware
and Maryland"
According to the United States census
reports, there were in the United States
So, 1856, 900 peach trees in 1890 and
99,9l9. 600 in 1900, an increase Of more
than 85 per cent in 10 years During
this time the number in New Jersey de-
creased from 4 ,414,000 in 1890 to g.
TAT 1000, loss of 38 per cent
Only three States showed a de-
crease New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland Every other State increased
its peach orchards To 1890 these three
States had 90 per cent of all the peach
trees in the United States In 1900
they had only 8 per cent
There seems to have been panic
among the growers. owing to the San
Jose scale But the department de-
clares that this has not been the orly
trouble
''As is usual when'any serious enemy
threatens crop, all troubles are
charged to this pest" says the bulletin
damages from starvation, lack Of till
age, borers, leaf curl and brown rot are
very frequently all punched and charged
to the account of the scale"
In the field work a study was made Of
soils. tillage, fertilization, spraying, va
rieties diseases, insects and other qnes-
tions.
The more important Suggestions to
growers with a view TO overcoming
present unfavorable conditions are thus
summarized for the consideration Of
peachgrowers in Maryland. Delaware
and New Jersey for the first year !:
Select welldrained field, one that
has also good air drainage, higher than
the surrounding land if possible.
If possible have tho field some dis
lance from other orchards,
Lime the soil before planting. unless
sure that it is not needed.
Buy good thrifty trees Of a nursery
man who is not only honest, but intel
ligent-one who knows the diseases of
the leach, so that he will not be propa-
eating diseased trees
Remove the bores, il there are any.
Prune to a whip, or nearly so.
Dip in lime, sulphur aud salt before
setting
Plant far enough apart so that it will
be easy to drive through when spraying
Fertilize we'll and plant corn or other
titled crops between the trees.
Prune in June, so as to start the
formation of the heads.
Remove the bores in the fall.
Spray the next spring
To Keep Up tho Orchard.
The suggestions for subsequent years
are as follows
Prune every year, doing some head
ing in as well as thinning out.
Spray thoroughly every spring before
the buds swell
Till every year. beginning early in
the season and stopping early.
Fertilize literally with phosphoric
acid and potash. particularly with pot
ash If barnyard manure is used also
apply muriate Of potash
Remove the borers every fall and
again in the spring.
After having been given this good
care, promptly remove all sick trees.
Thin the fruit when necessary
Grade the fruit carefully. Put up
the first quality in package that differs
from that used for the poorer grades.
If the peach orchard is neglected in
order to care for the corn crop the
profits must be expected to come from
the corn