Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-25

lions.
There can, be no doubt as to a de-
Sirable outlet for the peach crop
produced in this section. 1t would
come on later than the south Geor-
gia crop and it would be ready for
shipment before fruit natures at the
higher elevations lying to the north.
The territory in question is traV-
ersed by several trunk lines which
give ready access to either eastern,
western or southern markets, so the
matter of delivering the peaches in
large consuming ycenters is easy of
solution.
Presumably anyone engaged in
commercial peach production in the
section under discussion would de-
sire to handle the crop through the
agency of the Georgia Fruit ex-
change, which now employs mar
keting agents and is able by it's
system Of handling the crop not
only to deliver it at market CEN
ters in The best of condition, but
to so divert and care for the out
put of our orchards as to prevent
any particular market from oeing
glutted ana thus insure the orchard
list Of q 4dir ana .i@st profit o. his
operations.
Peaches Of The very finest quality
can be produced in the territory
described. This has been demon
strated over and over again. That
they will stand up well and Eta in
their flavor even when shipped to
distant markets has been Demon
strated by experiments conducted at
the Georgia State College of Agri-
culture. from which point crate
shipments have been made to such
distant markets as Denver, Chicago,
New York and the cities lying in be-
tween. The fruit, even when handled
in the manner Indicated, reached
it's destination i'll firSt-claSs condi-
ton and commanded q high price
because OF its fine appearance and
quality. Undoubtedly peach OF
beautiful colorlng and fire size and
appearance can be produced OH the
red soils of the Piedmont section,
and in so far as yields are con-
cerned, no section of the state viii
give the skillful orchardist a larger
return per Tree.
Climatic Conditions Favorable
AS to climatic conditions in gen.
eral. they are as favorable as in
other sections of Georgia. The rain
fall is usually sufficiently we'll dis
tributed to meet the requirements
of the peach crop, and insects and
plant diseases are no more difficult
to combat here than elsewhere. Oc-
casionally the crop might be cut
down or injured by late spring
frost, but this is likely to occur
anywhere and possibly, after all, is
one of natures means of protecting
the trees from overwhelming. Or
chards can be economically estab-
lished because the land is of q quail
ity which will grow the trees rapid
" and permit of a certain amount
of inter-tillage until the orchard
has attained the bearing age. Hence
the establishment of a peach orchard
does not, after all, call for such an
extraordinary outlay. Those who are
familiar with this business also
know that once a bearing orchard
has been developed the value of the
land has been materially enhanced.
There may be those who will
state that the rolling nature of the
country makes it exceedingly diff
cult to cultivate the orchard to
advantage and to prevent washing
and erosion. That this position is
not well taken is shown by the sue
cess which has attended orcharding
propositions inf similar locations
Moreover the wise orchardist who
plants with proper consideration of
slope and contour, and who uses
cover crops in the winter, can pre-
vent erosion from damaging his
land and can help to maintain the
necessary supply of humus and veg
etable matter in the soil throu gn
the use of the great variety of
cover crops which can be grown adj
Vantageously in this section. There
is no reason, therefore, why a man
acquainted with the peach industry
should hesitate to establish and de-
velop the production of this fruit on
commercial scale in that section
of Georgia where, up to this time,
it has received little attention or
consideration.
In the matter of truck growing,
the territory described affords the
best of opportunities. Not only are
the local towns and cities under-sup~
piled at many seasons of the year,
but there is an opportunity to ship
truck south at one season of the
year and north at another to the
best possible advantage.
Better climatic and soil conditions
could not be asked for the produc-
ton of Irish potatoes. These will
not come on the market as soon as
the Florida or south Georgia crop,
but they. can be brought to mar
ketable condition even in this Sec
ton, by the first of May if prompt
planting and cultivation are given
this crop. To do this successfully
the lana must be prepared in the
fall and planting done say in late
January or very early February. The
best method to follow is to cut the
potatoes so as to leave two eyes to
each piece and leave one piece to the
hill Space the hills about IS inches
apart and make the rows to 3.5
feet wide Fertilize literally and
cover to a good depth. Those who
fail to raise a good crop of Irish
potatoes under these conditions will
be few and far between. A long
experience shows that good yields of
fine quality can be obtained and that
the crop, if market conditions are
not Immediately favorable, can be
stored and held for several weeks, or
for even so to so days. A crop which
can be kept as long as indicated
without injury can always be mark
eted to good advantage.
Other Good Crops
Irish potato growing nationally con-
Quoted on the red soils of the Pied
mont territory offers a fine oppor-
tIn1tU tn the tp11n1yctnp 1i7.
that great many say they have
tried this and their potatoes were
ready for harvest when the market
was glutted and hence they made no
money. They should go a little fur
Their and say they have no facilities
for keeping the potatoes, such as a
sweet potato storage house would af-
ford for that crop in the autumn and