Save Your Peach Trees by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 28, 1884

Save Your Peach Trees.

By Editor

As this winter has been exceptionally hard in some parts of the country, and as our paper circulates extensively, we consider it our duty to thus early give a word of warning to peach growers. We expect to hear a wail from some parts of the United States, of "peach trees all killed;" but observation has convinced us that peach trees are very seldom winter killed. Many are sacrificed because the growers have not given themselves a chance to learn better.

Do not cut down your peach trees in the spring, even though they appear to be entirely killed. Let them stand until August. If they do not throw out any leaves in August, then cut them down as cumberers of the ground; they will never be anything else.

We have known trees which were as dry and dead in appearance as could possibly be, and remain so clear through June and July, and yet give a fair crop even the following year. In August they first gave signs of vitality. In 1856 we knew orchards to be cut down which, from their appearance, were by all judged to be dead, and yet many of the trees put out leaves in the summer, long after they were cut down. And we knew one orchard in which every tree appeared to be killed, but the owner was advised to let them stand till August, and in that month they gave signs of life. And that orchard was very profitable to its owner, as it gave good crops for several years when peaches were scarce, as most other orchards had been cut down.

We know that our advice is good. Do not sacrifice valuable trees because of appearances. Spare them until August. Of course they will not give strong evidences of vitality, as they are weak. But a very severe winter is seldom immediately followed by another. So their chances are good if they have any life.