36 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



light one. The Amsden and Waterloo are also quite hardy, while Stump-the- World 

 is exceedingly tencfer. It failed to bear but a very light crop, even in the fairly 

 favorable season of last year. 



But it may be asked by some, what does it signify ? supposing that some vari- 

 eties are hardier than others, what difference does that make? Simply this: 



What has been done with the apple, the grape and other fruits, can with proper 

 skill be done with the peach. They have been bred for hardiness, for quality, and 

 for other desirable attributes, and success has crowned the efforts in these various 

 directions; then the same may be done with the peach. By propagating from the 

 best and hardiest, a race of hardier peach-trees may be produced that will stand 

 several degrees of cold more than those now in cultivation. And when it is 

 remembered that often the crop is destroyed by a cold snap that only sends the 

 mercury a little below the danger point to the peach, it can readily be seen that any 

 improvement in this direction might mean a great deal, and would certainly be 

 hailed with delight by all lovers of this fine fruit. If its ability to stand cold could 

 be increased by five degrees, it would enable us to have a crop quite ofen, when as 

 it is, we have none. It would also render peach-growing a safe venture much 

 farther north than at present. If only one full crop over the country could be 

 secured by this means, it would be worth millions of dollars, and that would pay 

 for a great deal of experimenting on this line and still have some left. 



But the origination, testing and propagation of new fruits is an expensive 

 business, and, as a rule, cannot be done by private individuals. It takes too long 

 and too much time, and consequently too much money — for "time is money" — and 

 the chances of success and of sufficient remuneration in the end are too great ; 

 hence, but few persons care to begin an undertaking of this kind. This, it seems 

 to me, might properly be taken in hand by our Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 and be carried on by the authorities there on scientific principles through the 

 necessary years of experimentation and to final and triumphant success. They 

 have the means and the ability ; will they do it ? 



Z. T. Russell, Carthage, Mo. 



Question — Which is the most hardy peach f 



Mr. Goodman — Early York. Some varieties are very much more 

 hardy than others, and there is no reason, to my mind, why we cannot 

 and should not have a hardy race of peach trees, sufficiently so as to 

 be able to stand 20° or 25° below zero and give us a crop. This is one 

 of the best fields open to our Experiment Stations, and it seems to me 

 that it should be taken up in a systematic manner. 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 : why not breed a race or rather family of peaches which 

 will stand our climate and produce every year f 



Yellow-fieshed varieties are tenderer than white-fleshed. Cham- 

 pion seems hardy. High grounds are the only locations fit for peaches. 

 Never plant on the low lands. Trees may be covered or buried for 

 amateur work, but it can't be done on a large scale. 



Mr. Blake thinks that our Experiment Station has accomplislied 

 no good, nor will it until it gets into the hands of this Society, and 



