404 KEPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



under way and the calyx lobes quite pronounced by July 23. Sta- 

 mens and petals were observed by August 28 and the pistils were also 

 indicated at that time. 



E. S. Goff, studying the subject at the Wisconsin Station « one 

 season, found that the flowers of the Bokara peach commenced 

 forming about the middle of vSeptember. 



HARDINESS. 



As a result of the severe freeze of February 5, 1898, when the 

 thermometer registered —6.5° F., the peach crop of practically the 

 entire South was killed. As a result of an investigation of peaches 

 at this time, the Alabama Station ^ believes that it is not advisable 

 in the central ])art of that State to plant varieties other than those 

 of the more hardy Persian and North China types. 



As a result of an examination of peach buds of six varieties which 

 had been subject during the winter at one time to — 12.5°F. and 

 another to —15° F., the Illinois vStation found *" that the variety 

 Wager had but 8 per cent of live buds, Diamond Cling 13 per cent, 

 Alexandra 34 per cent, Thurber 67 per cent, Seedling Cling 77 per 

 cent, and the Roser 83 per cent. An unknown variet}^ growing in 

 sod had 95 per cent of the buds alive when examined at the same 

 time. 



Investigations of the Canada Experimental Farms indicate that 

 the buds on the lowest limbs are often more severely injured than 

 those in the top of the tree/ Among varieties with the hardiest 

 buds were Hill Chili, Longhurst, Barnard, and Early Rivers. 



The Massachusetts Hatch Station reports the results of an exami- 

 nation of peach buds from December 1 until March 13, following.*^ 

 Weekly examinations were made, 500 buds being cut open at each 

 examination. The lowest temperature of the winter was —6° F. 

 From 10 to 99 per cent of the buds on dift'erent varieties was killed. 

 Some of the more hardier sorts were Alexandra, Excelsior, Schu- 

 maker, Waterloo, and Hale Early. In 1902 the buds were largely 

 killed before the middle of December before the temperature had 

 reached much below zero. 



In an investigation of the injury to peach buds from frost, by 

 the New Jersey Stations, it was found > that the pistil was the 

 first to show injury, the fresh green a])pearance being replaced by 

 brownness, and instead of being upright and plump it becomes 



n Wisconsin f5ta. Rpt. 1900, p. 275. 



&Alal)aniaS(;v. I^iil. 11. 



c Illinois Sta. Rul. 21. 



d Canada Expcrinionlal Farms Rpl. 1896, p. 155. 



'Massachusetts Hatch Stas. Rpt. 1800, p. 7. Biil. 10, Bui. 17. 



/New Jersey Sta. Rpt. 1890, p. 323. 



