484 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



county, Xew York. His sou, William Finch, now of Naper Valley, California, 

 introduced this peach at St. Joseph, under the name of Queen of Sheba. Mr. 

 J. B. Southerlaud, of St. Joseph, propagated from this stock, under the title 

 of Climax. Mr. Southerlaud says there were two original trees in Mr. Finch's 

 orchard, in Ingham county. Mr. George Parmelee, who propagated from the 

 Stanley's stock, called the peach Leopard, on account of its spotted appearance 

 when ripe. Mr. T. W. Dunham, of Kalamazoo county, disseminated this 

 peach at St. Joseph, where he set an extensive orchard, and gave it the name 

 of Jenny Lind. In the neighborhood of Benton Harbor, it assumed the syn- 

 onym Sugar. This delectable peach, in masquerade, found its way into the 

 orchard of Mr. Seagrove, of Grand Ilayen, as the Smolk. It was welcomed 

 into this more northern region and propagated by Mr. Husted, of the Grand 

 Eiver nurseries, under the name df Seagrove's Smolk. Whether these various 

 stocks are derived from the original stock, through the process of budding, or 

 reproduction from the pit, is not of great importance in our present investiga- 

 tion. That the tree and fruit are in all points identical is sufficient reason 

 why they should bear a common name. We would suggest that the question 

 of its origin in New York be referred to J. J. Thomas, our distinguished guest, 

 for the settlement of this question might determine the name for general use. 

 If it should appear tlie original stock was imported from France, it could, 

 Avith great propriety, be called the Cass peach. If its origin was in New York, 

 we could, perhaps, unite on a name having the claim of priority. Our com- 

 mittee on nomenclature have selected for this peach the name of Hill's Chili* 

 Its extreme hardiness, early and constant bearing, and the excellent quality of 

 its fruit, have won for Hill's Chili a general popularity in our State. It is 

 quite liable to injury from over-bearing, if the fruit be not carefully thinned. 

 No peach, later than Hill's Chili, can be recommended for general culture in 

 the lake shore region. These two peaches, which we call Barnard and Hill's 

 Chili, have thus stolen among us incognito, and without the prestige of a 

 bright exterior, by intrinsic merit alone, risen in estimation until they are 

 able to dispute tlie supremacy of the orchard Avith those old favorites the 

 Early and Late Crawford. For their greater liability to fall, and lack of 

 bright colors, we have compensation in their smaller pit, more uniform size, 

 and extraordinary shipping qualities. 



The above list of peaches gives a complete succession. Of these, the four 



tern of pruning. We affirm, both from its constant success abroad, and from our own expe- 

 rience and observation in tliis country, tbat, putting its two diseases out of tlie question, the 

 peach may be continued in full vigor and production, in any good soil, for from ten to thirty 

 years. 



Let us take a healthy tree in the orchard or garden, in its first blossoming year. It is 

 usually about six to eight feet high, its well-shaped head branching out about three feet * 

 from the ground. It has never yet been trimmed, except to regulate any deformity in lis 

 shape, and this is so much the better. 



At the end of Februaiy, or as early in the spring as may be, we commence pruning. 

 This consists only of shortening-in, i. e„ cutting oS half the last year's growth over the whole 

 outside of the head of the tree, and also upon the inner branches. As the usual average 

 growth is from one to two feet, we shall necessarily take off from six to twelve inches. It 

 need not be done with precise measurement ; indeed, the strongest shoots should be shortened 

 back most, in order to bring up the others, and any long or projecting limbs that destroy the 

 balance of the head should be cut back to a unilorm length. This brings the tree into a 

 well-rounded shape. By reducing the young wood one-half, we at the same moment reduce 

 the coming crop one-half in number. The remaining half, receiving all the sustenance of 



* We think low heads much preferable to high ones on many accounts. They shade the root, and are mare 

 within reach both lor prunin;? and gathering. 



