The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-13
Peaches Again to Thrive.

Peaches growing In the State OF New
Jersey was an important industry up
until the advent of the San Jose scale. So
great was the destruction of the trees by
this pest that from 1890 to 1900 the num-
Der in the state decreased from A, Ala, 900
to 2,747 900.
The New Jersey Experiment Station re-
allied the Importance of the peach indus
try to the State, and decided to make
thorough investigation of the peach prob
lens in order to encourage the fruit
growers. and to place the industry upon a
frmer basis if possible. Accordingly an
experimental orchard of 1000 trees was
set out a. High Bridge, Hunterdon county
In the spring of 1906, and an orchard of
675 trees was set out in the spring of 1907,
at Vineland, Cumberland county, and an
additional planting of SAB trees was made
in the spring of 1908.
The outlook for profitable peach culture
In New Jersey was never better than it
10 at the present time. The soil and
weather conditions are favorable, and the
state ia better situated with reference. to
markets than any other peach-growing
section in the world. The number Of trees
in Delaware and Maryland has decreased
rapidly, as has been the case in New
Jersey, so the competition from that Sec
ton is very much reduced, and with proper
management of shipments, 1t should not
be disturbing factor at the present time.
There are four principal types of soil in
New Jersey upon which peaches are
grown-the loamy hills and mountain soils,
the red shale soils, the sandy trucking
soils and the grayelly loans of centeral
and southern New Jersey.
Peach growers generally prefer spring
to fall planting. The main objection to
fall planting is that many of the orchard
sites in New Jersey are exposed to strong
winds, and the fall planted trees, having
but slight root-hold in the soil, are
sometimes whipped about during warm
period In winter and loosened so that q
hole Ia opened about the trunk and down
to the roots, and if water collects and
freezes about the exposed roots, winter in
Jury to the young trees is almost sure to
result. Such an injury is likely to occur
during thaws in winter, when the ground
is soft and high winds prevail.
For spring planting the land should be
plowed and narrowed as early as the soil
is fit to be worked. At that time the soil
is full of moisture, and If the trees are
planted they will be in condition to start
their growth nearly as soon as fall-plant-
ed trees. In average seasons In South
Jersey the peach trees should all be plant
ed by April 10.
The New Jersey Experiment Station, In
Bulletin No. 219, gives some valuable facts
that should be known to all growers. II
says that In selecting the site for the
orchard lowlands and much sheltered
places should be avoided, as well as site
exposed to severe prevailing winds. The
soil should be well drained, and yet not
one that is likely to suffer from droughtin
summer Avoid heavy, wet soils, and
also strips of lands which have small por-
tions that are ''springy" or wet.
1t is better to set out year-old-trees than
June buds. If properly handled large
trees will do well. The trees should be
set from II to IS feet apart each way,
unless it is intended to practice a system
OF close pruning.