48 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



variety, ripening just ahead of the Worden, but not very productive. Still, 

 it is a favorite in northern localities. Among the red varieties, the Dela- 

 ware is still the best in localities where the foliage does not fail, with the 

 Brighton holding second place. Both ripen as early as Concord. The 

 Empire State and Niagara are the best white varieties I have yet seen, and 

 ripen with Concord. But, in growing grapes for market, remember that 

 the large city markets will use more carloads of good black grapes than they 

 will cart loads of either red or white varieties; yet this might not be tru& 

 of some small local markets. 



TREE FRUITS. 



Next we will consider the tree fruits adapted to this climate and to light 

 soils. Probably first in their adaptability to both comes the cherry; and 

 while I am familiar with its culture in a general way, I do not feel compe- 

 tent to discuss the merits of different varieties further than to say that 

 they are partial to light soils, and I hope you will call wp some experi- 

 enced grower for information on varieties. 



Next in its adaptability to light soils comes the peach; but as I infer 

 that this climate is a trying one during the winter, I will speak only of the 

 hardiest varieties with which I am familiar. It is quite well known that 

 our earliest varieties, while generally considered a poor excuse for peaches, 

 are at the same time among the hardiest in the bud; but being so poor in 

 quality and so subject to the attacks of curculio, I will not name the 

 earliest; and in naming the lowest degree of cold each variety will stand, it 

 must be remembered that it only has reference to buds that are in normal 

 condition, and might be subject to greater variations, as the buds are 

 affected by adverse or extremely favorable conditions. First in the list 

 I will name the Early Rivers, which can be classed as a second early sort. 

 This tree is safe for a crop at ten or twelve degrees below zero; fruit 

 of good size, white, with slight shadings of pink; ripens usually about 

 Aug. 10; fair quality; its defects are very tender flesh (bruises easily) and 

 pit cracks badly. Lewis was first brought to notice by a report made at the 

 meeting of the American society at Grand Rapids, when some gentleman 

 from Allegan county reported that a neighbor had thirty trees, from which 

 he picked 900 baskets, and sold them for $900, or at the rate of some $3,30(> 

 per acre. This was following the disastrous February of '84 or '85, when the 

 thermometer went down to twenty or thirty below zero, killing many orch- 

 ards and all other varieties of peach in the vicinity in which these trees- 

 stood; and I believe they have never been killed entirely since. This is of 

 course a good record, and the variety ripens early — in fact, is the 

 earliest white freestone peach of fair quality; is of good size, wonderfully 

 productive of beautiful peaches, ripening at a good time, and will succeed 

 where any variety can. A variety called Early Michigan has been decided 

 to be identical. Early Barnard is a reliable old variety and is first-class 

 in every respect; has deep yellow flesh and skin, with dark-red cheek; of 

 excellent quality; generally overbears, and must be well thinned to get 

 best results. It stands twelve degrees below zero without material injury. 

 Snow's Orange is practically a late Barnard, differing only in being larger 

 and about ten days later. Red-Cheek (Melacaton) is the parent of the 

 Crawford, and I very much prefer it today, as it proves to be much hardier 

 and more productive although not as large. Elberta comes to us with the 

 unqualified praise of every man who has fruited it or seen it. Some of the 



