220 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE 



of the Alexander and the other early, white-fleshed kinds in the market. When the 

 fruits are thinned so as to be at least six inches apart on the trees, they reach a fair 

 size. Fitzgerald is a valuable kind to follow Early Crawford in the market, and 

 wherever tested it seems to be one of the most hardy and productive varieties. 

 It is a yellow peach of good size, attractive appearance and good flavor. Although 

 not especially desirable as market varieties. Mountain Rose and Oldmixon are fairly 

 hardy, productive and of good quality and are worthy of place in orchards for 

 home use. 



CHERRIES. 



For most parts of the State, the sour varieties of cherries will be found most 

 desirable both for home use and market. While the sweet cherries do well in many 

 sections, and when well grown are a very valuable fruit on account of their large 

 size and superior quality, the trees in other sections are often injured by the burst- 

 ing of the bark upon the trunk and larger branches and, as a result die; they sel- 

 dom attain their full size. The fruit, too, is often injured by brown i-ot and the 

 blossoms are often destroyed by late spring frosts. For these reasons it can be seen 

 that the sweet cherries are far less reliable than the sour vaiiieties. 



Of the sour cherries Richmond, Montmorency and English Morello will be found 

 generally reliable, and as they ripen dn succession, they will cover the greater 

 part of the season. May Duke and Late Duke are also fairly productive, and the 

 fruit of these varieties is lai-ger and less acid than that of the kinds above 

 mentioned. Brusseler Braune and Wragg are two varieties that have been grown 

 in the State (or the past ten or twelve years, and seem to be preferable to English 

 Morello, as the' fruit is larger, later and has longer stems than those of that 

 variety. The trees are also rather stronger, better growers, and are fully as pro- 

 ductive. 



Of the sweet varieties. Early Purple, Gov. Wood, Blgarreau (Yellow Spanish), 

 Napoleon, Rockport, Elton and Windsor are most generally successful. The burst- 

 ing of the bark of these varieties can be lessened by the use of cover crops dur- 

 ing the winter while the trees are young, and, later on, seeding the land to clover 

 or grass. If the soil is fairly rich and supplied with moisture, it will have little 

 if any injurious effect and will benefit the trees by checking their tendency to make 

 a strong growth. 



GRAPES. 



The list of grapes for home use or market purposes differs but little from that 

 recommended in the previous fruit list. Coucord is still the leading black variety, 

 while Worden has come rather more prominently into notice, as it is somewhat 

 earier than Concord and less likely to be injured by early frosts in the fall. Moore 

 is still somewhat grown as an early black sort. Although not fully tested in Michi- 

 gan, Campbell (Early) is well worthy of trial, 'as the plants seem unusually strong, 

 hardy and free from disease, while the fruit is of large size, both* in berry and 

 cluster, and ripens a week or ten days earlier than Concord. The pulp is tender, 

 separates readily from the seeds, and is of excellent quality. The vines seem to 

 be very productive, and as the fruit is said to hang a long time without dropping, 

 it is probable that it will be an excellent shipping and a long-keeping variety. 



Of the red grapes Delaware is most extensively grown, and, where it has a suit- 

 able location and good care, it is one of the most productive varieties. Although 

 the fruit is small, the superior flavor of the pulp makes it one of the most valuable 

 of table granes. Brighton is less generally successful, but it has much merit as a 

 variety for home use or local market. Salem is also highly prized and Vergennes 

 and Diana are somewhat grown, owing to the fact that they ihave superior keeping 

 qualities. 



McPike is a new variety that has much promise. In a general way, the same 

 claims are made for it as for Campbell and. judging from the appearance of the 

 foliage and fruit, they can be easily substantiated. The vines are said to be very 

 hardy, healthy and productive, and the fiiiit is attractive in appearance and of 

 excellent quality. 



Winchell, Diamond and Niagara are the best white varieties and cover the season 

 fairly well. Winchell is a hardy, productive and early sort, and although its clust- 

 ers are small, the fi-uit is of good quality. Diamond has much larger clusters and 

 is one of the handsomest varieties gi'own. Niagara has been quite extensively 

 planted as a market sort, and when well grown, generally brings a slightly higher 

 price than C3" be secured for the black and purple varieties. 



