El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-10
Peach Growing in the Rio Grande Valley
C. Practf caI Orchar

1.-THE Rio Grande valley is without
doubt favored locality for the
peach grower-by the Rio
Grande valley 1 mean the Rincon, Me
silla and FL Paso valleys. Few realize
the Importance of this neglected indus
try, which is today on the decline,
rather than on the increase.
Some 10 years ago there were peaches
enough grown in the Mesilla valley
alone, that several carloads were
shipped to eastern markets in a single
season. This year, 1 dare say, there
was never enough peaches ready for
the market at any period during the
season to fill a car
This decline is not due to any fault of
the climate or to the soil It is due
to the lack of experience in the grow
ing and handling of the fruit, and a de-
sire to become a millionaire in a fort
night.
Meteorological Conditions.
The elements in the above mentioned
localities seems to favor the growing
and well ventilated with only a few
exceptions. Frosts are less frequent
and less severe here than. in many
other districts where peaches are
grown extensively. In the past Is years
there has been only one total crop
failure due to severe frosts.
Smudging a Success.
By the use of the various smudges
now in common practice, a total or
partial crop is assured. There are
many kinds of smudges They are
such as the burning of old hay or ma
nure in or around the orchard, making
a dense smoke which hovers over the
trees thereby raising the Temperature:
the coal smudge is also effective But
Tor this locality the crude oil smudge
seems to produce the best results. The
smudge pot or vessel in which the oil
Is put to burn is a bucket-like arrange
ment with an air flue through the CEN
ter which makes better combustion
These pots will hold one gallon of oil
and will burn about seven hours. It
makes but little smoke. the blaze being
so intense that the atmosphere is heat.
ed for some distance around. thereby
accomplishing the same as the smoke
Soil.
A sandy loan such as may be found
in the lower Rio Grande valley seems
to be best adapted to peach growing.
The soil is deep in most places and can
effort
Preparation of Soil and Planting.
The soil should be put in a loose
mellow condition before there is any
attempt made at tree planting This
can be done by blowing and harrow
ing. The holes or pits should be dug
about two feet square and from Is to
- inches deep The soil in the bottom
Of the pit should be well pulverized.
IN order to give the little root hairs
a chance to begin work at once. There
are many rules in common practice for
the distance to be allowed between
trees. but the majority of them allow
too little instead Of too much space.
Before the young tree is placed in
the ground care should be taken to see
that all of the dead and bruised root
lets have been removed. Tops are some
times cut back to about two or three
feet
Cultivation.
Cultivation is one of the neglected
requisites in the growing of good
peaches The orchard should be Gull
tivated not less than twice during the
growing season and once during the
winter. This can be accomplished by
blowing and narrowing, by using the
orchard disc or by any method which
viii form a mulch and prevent evapo-
ration. as this is the principal object
Of cultivation. 1t is better to irrigate
less and cultivate more. In the main,
two or three irrigations during the
summer VIII make a crop of peaches
Pruning.
There are many trees in this valley
that have never been pruned since they
left the nursery row, and many more
that are MT pruned enough or else
they were pruned improperly. Many
think that all that is necessary is to go
into the orchard and chop off few
limbs with an AK or saw them off six
inches or more from the trunk, A tree
treated in such a manner may never
be expected to bear the best fruit Dead
ard improper limbs or branches should
be cut off close to the trunk and with
the same angle. as dead projecting
stumps furnish a harbcring place for
insects and are liable to decay back
into the body of the tree.