Evening star., 1946-08-18


home gardener Is apt to promise
that before another year rolls
around he will plant a peach tree
or two. For all who would once
again enjoy peaches that are
peaches. the only alternative seems
to be to grow them.
So as far as size goes, peach trees
are adapted to the larger city lot.
However, there are problems in
volved in successful peach culture
that should be weighed before
planting the tree.
In the first place, there is the
question of site. Orchardists have
long emphasized the Importance of
slope. A south slope brings the fruit
into flower early, consequently the
crop is frequently wiped out by late
freezes. A western slope IS even less
satisfactory. An eastern slope is
favored by many since it is not quite
SO early as southern slope and yet
permits the peaches to ripen fairly
early. Thus the crop is not quite
so often lost to late cold spells"
A northern slope is the most de-
pendable as far as regularity of pro-
duction is concerned, but the har-
vests are later. This, of course, ap-
plies to the country. In the city,
where buildings tend to temper the
weather and to protect the trees
from cold winds there is no general
rule to follow. Each yard must be
studied to make certain that the
trees will not be given too much
protection.
Drainage Important.
Good soil Is essential, but in most
cases this can be obtained by the
addition of peat moss, sand compost
or other materials which we use to
tighten and enrich the soil. Sandy,
gravelly and stony soils, if we'll sup
piled with humus, are considered
most desirable, although peaches do
well in deep we'll drained clay soil. |
According to some authorities, the |
soil around the tree should be cul-
tivated to mid-July. They usually
also recommend a cover crop for the |
fall and winter.
Drainage is even more important,
for few fruit trees will survive in a
soggy, cold soil. With good subsur-
face drainage, the soil can be en-
riched and the tree will thrive with
ordinary feeding. A soil that is too
dry can sometimes be improved
through the addition of compost and
other moisture holding materials.
Peach trees should have plenty of
sunlight. However, they will do
fairly well with full sunlight part of
the day, preferably in the morning.
They will seldom thrive for long If
heavily shaded by larger trees or by
a building.
They are subject to a number of
insect pests which require systematic
control. Probably the peach tree
borer is the most persistent and in
sidlous. 1t attacks the trees at the
ground line and hence goes unno-
tlced until the tree is nearly ruined. |
This pest is easily controlled by the
use Of Para di chlorobenzine |
IPD.BD crystals which can be
placed around the trunk OF the tree
each fall. 1t takes only few min
utes to loosen the soil and spread a
ring of the crystals an inch or so
from the trunk, mounding the dirt |
over the crystals in order to hold
the fumes to the tree trunk where
they will kill any borers.
DDT Kills Moths.
The Oriental peach moth. a tiny
pest that destroyed the tips of the
new wood, was uncomfortable until
the advent of DDT. Now 1t is killed
by DDT sprays which are used to
keep japanese beetles from devour-
ing the foliage.
The plum curculio is a serious
threat to the fruit, although 1t may
be that the newer sprays containing
DOT will also control this pest. It is
responsible for the worms in the
peaches. Otherwise, a regular pro-
gram using lead arsenate is required
An application of a dormant spray
in the early spring will control sew
eral other common pests, such as the
Shot-hole borer, the peach twig
borer and the San Jose scale. 1t also
helps to reduce the danger from
Brown Rot, common disease of the
soft fruits, and the Peach Leaf Curl
Brown Rot of peaches is bad only
IN an occasional year that has num-
erous showers at fruit ripening time.
Gardeners are tempted to omit the
application Of fungicide, usually
sulphur, in the hope that the disease
estimated the new institutions could
and that with the added junior coll