Kashmir valley is the largest deciduous fruit-growing tract in India, and, owing to the increased demand for fruit, many orchards, both large and small, have recently been laid out with technical assistance from the Department of Agriculture. Apple is the first choice of the fruit-growers, but as the trees begin bearing later than many stone-fruits, it is a common practice to plant peaches and nectarines between the rows of the young apple trees; this produces early returns without disturbing and exhausting the soil by ploughing and growing annual crops. With the rapid development of road transport, it is hoped that peaches will find a market outside the valley. The peaches of Kashmir are not so well known as are its apples and pears but with better attention to the trees an increase in production and an improvement in quality should be possible.