NEW VARIETIES OF FRUITS. 263 



nectarine; color creamy white, marbled and blotched with crimson; flavor a 

 combination of the peach and nectarine; quite original and exquisite; season 

 middle to end of August. 



Princess of Wales — Very large; one of the largest peaches known, and one 

 of the most beautiful ; its color cream, with a rosy cheek; melting, rich and 

 excellent; season first to middle of September. 



Prince of Wales — Very large ; color deep crimson ; melting, rich and excel- 

 lent ; a very fine peach ; season middle of September. 



Nectarine Peach — Very large ; pointed, with a smooth, nectarine-like skin ; 

 flesh melting, rich and racy ; season middle of September. 



Lord Palmers/on — Very large : the largest of peaches ; skin creamy white 

 with a pink cheek ; flesh firm, yet melting, very juicy and rich ; season middle 

 to end of September. 



Lady Palm erst on — Large; melting and very good; skin greenish-yellow, 

 marbled with crimson ; very handsome ; flesh pale yellow. This fine peach 

 ripens toward the end of September, and is a most distinct variety. 



Comet — Large; nearly round ; orange, with a crimson cheek ; melting, sweet 

 and good ; season early in October. 



Of these only the first three can properly be said to have even laid the foun- 

 dation of a reputation in this country, although the high promise of those may 

 be accepted as encouragement to a prompt trial of the remaining sorts. The 

 eminent success of the peach in our American climate creates a strong proba- 

 bility that at least some of these aliens, with royal and lordly names, may be 

 found to take kindly to the brighter suns and more virgin soils of uuaristo- 

 cratic America. 



AUxander is a more recent candidate for populanty, it having first come 

 prominently before the public in the fall of 1873. 



While peach growers were wondering whether the climax of earliuess had 

 not been reached by Mr. Rivers of Europe, with the Beatrice, this phenomenon 

 was heralded from the prairies of central Illinois, in vindication of the Ameri- 

 can reputation for keeping up with the times, — an important matter if, in this 

 case, we would sustain our arrogated reputation of possessing the horii", par 

 excellence, of this fruit. 



We add a few items of the history of its origin from the originator, 0. A. 

 Alexander of Logan county, 111., under date of 1873 : 



" Four years ago a few peach trees, including the one that subsequently bore this fruit, 

 sprang up accidentally in my garden, and the succeeding spring were transferred elsewhere. 

 This one was selected for its more perfect symmetry, and set near the house for its shade, 

 not suspecting its real character. Last year (1872) it blossomed and set a moderate quantity 

 of fruit, which, at an early stage, showed a decided superiority of growth. The first speci- 

 mens were plucked July 18th in good eating condition. July 25th, when these were nearly 

 all far advanced in ripeness, making a display of beauty such as peach trees seldom exhibit, 

 and I may venture to add never excel, tlie Hale's Early were still green, and little more 

 than half grown." 



In noticing specimens sent for examination, Mr. Charles Downing says : 



" The Alexander's Early peach is very handsome and regular in form, and if it proves as 

 early in the future, it will be a great acquisition, both for the amateur and for market. It 

 is not as sweet as some kinds, but the vinous flavor is rich and good ; the flesh is thick and 

 quite firm, which will enable it to carry well long distances to market." 



There were those who feared that this unusual earliness might be the result 

 of disease, but an examination of the tree and Iruit seems to have allayed this 

 fear, and subsequent observation and experience with the variety seems to have 



