Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/203

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PEACH.
197

Tippecanoe.—Color bright yellow, with red cheek; oval form. Ripe 10th to 20th September—cling.

Propagation.—This is of the simplest character. It is usually performed by planting the stones (or pits), in November, about two inches deep, in rich, light, or sandy soil. These nearly all vegetate in the Spring, and can be budded the following September, or about the end of August. They are then headed down close to the bud, early in the Spring, when they will make a growth of from three to nine feet the first season, with lateral branches all up the stem. In some parts of Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi, the stones are planted in November, budded the end of the following June, headed down in July, and make a growth of four to six feet all within one year of the stone being planted. These operations are all performed on the Peach-stone. The tree is consequently short-lived; but being so readily replaced, that is not generally considered of much consequence. However, we would prefer budding for our own use on the Plum stock. The tree will live half a century thereon, and will not be subject to the Borer, which is a great enemy to the Peach stock.

Planting.—If we wish to reap the fruit, we must prepare the soil. As the foundation is laid, so will the erection stand. Plough or dig your soil deep; manure well the year previous; plant your trees twenty feet apart, which will take one hundred to the acre. Our remarks on planting Apples will apply here. Cultivate the ground with a light crop, giving manure every two years.

Pruning.—This is very indifferently attended to in the Peach. The trees are allowed to grow at random—long, straggling branches, with the fruit at the extremity, bending them to the ground, and never thinned out. The result is, the first storm breaks half of the limbs, and the fruit does not grow over half its size, ripening prematurely, and commanding