TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 189 



of Salway, but not very many, they are so extremely late. Smock has 

 been a good paying peach with us, but there is a great difference in differ- 

 ent strains of the same variety, and that is true of Chili, and of almost 

 any variety you may name. You may take Mountain Eose, one of the 

 finest peaches ever grown, for eating, and yet you will find that there are 

 many inferior peaches sold by the nurserymen under that name. They 

 will be small and inferior, but if you can get the genuine Mountain Rose 

 it is a good peach to set. We have not had Elberta in fruit. It has 

 a good name, and from samples I have seen I think it sustains its good 

 name. At the World's Fair at Chicago I saw samples of Elberta. 

 My impression of it there was that it was rather inferior, but I think that 

 must be a mistake from other samples I have seen. I only know 

 Crosby by reputation. It is said to be very hardy, and I suppose, also, 

 inclined to be under-size. Late Crawford is too shy a bearer to suit 

 us. It is a fine peach when you can get it. 



Mr. Morrill: Crosby is a new peach generally. I have fruited it 

 on one-year trees, and nearly all bore fruit. They are very much of the 

 Barnard style of growth and color, only more brilliant, and probably of 

 about the same size. Whether they will respond to pruning, and size up 

 well, I do not know. Barnard responds to thinning quickly, and the 

 tree is a fair grower, with buds of a character that show they are hardy. 

 A man, well informed, can get an idea from the bud, when he sees its 

 growth this time of year — small, dark, firm buds, like a kernel of wheat. 

 Coming to Lewis, we find that a most profitable peach, at its season 

 of the year, probably none more profitable at any season. It is a strong 

 grower, very productive, and it is hardy enough so that, in 1885, when 

 the American society met at Grand Rapids, when we had on the 15th of 

 February, along the lake shore, a temperature running from 22 degrees 

 to 30 degrees below zero, Lewis was on exhibition. This peach was 

 mentioned first at Grand Rapids as being in the possession of Mr. N. W. 

 Lewis of Ganges, and that it was the only peach that went through that 

 severe weather; and he sold 900 baskets' for $900, off from thirty trees. 

 The appearance of Lewis would indicate that it had been crossed with 

 Hill's Chili, but it is firmer and, when thinned properly, larger. It grad- 

 ually worked into favor, until, up and down the lake shore, we have come 

 to believe there is nothing more profitable. I have two acres that have 

 been bearing some years. This year's was the fifth crop, and I took 5,000 

 bushels off from the two acres. These trees have twice gone through 10 

 degrees or 18 degrees below zero, and this year, in thinning, I took off four 

 peaches for every one I left on. I should place it first on the list in time 

 of ripening, and best of its season. Next I would take St. John, a yel- 

 low peach, quite prolific, and a beautiful thing, equal to the Crawford in 

 every respect, and laps on to the Lewis. Next following that, it is doubt- 

 ful if I could find anything that would please me better than the old Bar- 

 nard, if you grow it right. It is hardy, productive, and a fair grower of 

 good fruit, and will respond so readily to thinning that you get good size. 

 After that season there is but one white peach I would want, from the fact 

 that the market I have to go to, after the first, demands a yellow peach. 

 Judging from what I have been able to see (recollect, I do not pretend to 

 advise), I would take Crosby. Following that I would take Kala- 

 mazoo, because that has borne for me five straight crops of magnificent 

 peaches, and seems to be very hardy and productive. I would leave 



