158 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



or argument on this point. I do not think it can be denied that man 

 has sneceeded, to some extent at least, wherever he has tried, in de- 

 veloping any properties or peculiarities possessed by a plant or an 

 animal. Then, when his power has been so great and his success so 

 pronounced in other lines of a similar nature, why should he not breed 

 a hardier peach tree ? I believe be can, and that if the same care, 

 skill and persistence is brought to bear on the breeding of a hardy 

 peach that has been necessary to produce a two-minute pacer or trot- 

 ter, he is bound to succeed. 



Again, a race of hardy people are found in the cold countries; a 

 race of hardy cattle are in possession of the cold lands ; a race of 

 hardy ponies and dogs are found there, and varieties of the apple, the 

 blackberry and other fruits have been found or bred which can endure 

 the cold of northern latitudes. Then why can not varieties of the 

 peach be produced which will do the samel 



If all varieties of the peach were equally tender, then improve- 

 ment in the direction of hardiness might be despaired of; but we 

 know that they vary greatly in this respect. Then, reasoning by anal- 

 ogy from what has been done, all we have to do is to begin with the 

 hardiest we have, and from them breed new varieties, and continue 

 right on producing new varieties from the hardiest and best to be had. 



The hardiest peach I have tried is the Early York — an excellent 

 variety in other respects, as well as being hardy. The Crosby is also 

 said to be more hardy than others. Xow a good beginning might be 

 made, I should think, by crossing these two varieties; and if the line 

 of treatment here indicated is carried out, I can not see why trees 

 may not be produced that will endure 10 or 15 degrees, at least, of 

 cold more than any now existent. 



DISCUSSION. 



N. F. Murray — It is certainly time to make a step in the direction 

 of a hardy peach. We must produce varieties that bloom later. We 

 don't need the whole summer to grow a peach in this latitude. In 100 

 varieties which we planted in Holt county, Hale's Pearly was the hard- 

 iest, because it blooms later. The Jonathan apple crop was lost in some 

 parts of the State because it blooms early. Two weeks later bloom- 

 ing would be a great point in its favor. I believe we can raise a hardier 

 peach, so that we can have peaches nearly every year in North Mis- 

 souri. 



Dr. Green — I believe that if you can get a tree to bloom once it 

 is safe. I have noticed for the last ten years that when our trees bloom 

 we have a crop. 



