We believe it is generally conceded that Delaware is the best peach-growing region in the Union. Her soil and climate appear peculiarly adapted to the production of the peach in its greatest perfection. A committee from New Jersey visited Delaware last season to investigate peach-growing in that State. Among other matters in their report, the following points are put down as essential to successful peach culture: 1. To prepare thoroughly, clear and enrich the soil for planting. 2. To give plenty of room, or plant twenty-five or thirty feet apart. 3. Not to shorten in the branches. 4.To do a great deal of work among the trees - plowing, harrowing, cultivating, allowing no grass or weeds. 5. To hunt the borers once a year in autumn. 6. No raising corn or potatoes except the first three years in the orchard, and then only provided fertilizers are applied. 7. After the third year to plant nothing, but cultivate thoroughly.

Peach Culture In Delaware #1

Dr. David Stewart's system of Peach culture, am met forth in letters to the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Delaware fruit Growers' Association,

Planting - He prefers fell planting, in rows twenty feet each way. Advises that the plow shall run twice in each furrow, and throws up subsoil from the crossing. Fills the hole with top soil slightly above the level of the field. Places the tree upon this mound and piles the top soil a foot over the roots; during the winter it will settle to a level with the surface.

Cutting Back - Cut off the tree to the height of a walking cane, after it has put forth in the spring, but do not wound or depress its vitality while struggling for existence; allow it to get a start, and new roots to form, before subjecting it to the shock of decapitation. He applies a shovel full of strong ashes close around each tree every spring until the third or fourth year; also, as much more to the hills of corn between the trees, which crop by this treatment improves annually, whereas, by the usual practice, the corn crop deteriorates, and the trees are robbed, but do not manifest it until the fruiting season demands a special effort.

He has observed that the ashes produce no sensible effect upon the trees until the second year; but its effect upon the corn is distinct in a few days.

Soda refuse is worthless as a substitute for this purpose, and unless the ashes yield 12 per cent.of salts of potash - more should be used. Some that he has tested only yielded 4-llths of 1 per cent.

Mulch - He mulches his trees with coarse manure close around the trunk in the spripg, Applying it in April after the buds swell and blossoms appear, but before the peach moth deposits its eggs, Immediately thereafter it should be "tied" to the tree by throwing a furrow towards the tree on two opposite sides; or, by shoveling the surface soil, so that the mulch embraces the stem a foot above the level of the ground. The peach moth, finding its way to the soft bark below the surface of the earth bared by the mulch, deposits its eggs in the manure - where they either fall a prey to birds - or, the grubs are unable to penetrate the hard bark, and suffer the consequences of misplaced confidence in barking up the wrong tree. The peach tree is subject to many disorders, but it need not "have worms."