234 THE PEACHES OF NEW YORK 



being scarcely marred by the suture so that it is more shapely than the 

 oblong Elberta and can, of course, be packed to better advantage. The 

 color-plates of the two peaches show the differences in shape very well. 

 In color of fruit there is no choice — both peaches are voluptuously 

 handsome. The skin of J. H. Hale is less pubescent and possibly a little 

 firmer and tighter, characters adding to the appearance and shipping 

 qualities of the fruit. It is but an invitation to argument to say which 

 is the better in the characters that go to please the palate — flavor, aroma, 

 texture and juiciness. Neither, in comparison with many other peaches, 

 can be rated as extra good. 



Unfortunately we cannot be as certain of the merits of the trees of 

 the two varieties as we are of the fruits. This much we know, J. H. Hale 

 is a few days earlier than Elberta and its trees and buds are hardier than 

 those of Elberta. Which is the more productive is not certain and this 

 can be ascertained only when data can be had from a large number of 

 growers since productiveness in both is bound to vary with the soil. The 

 greatest asset of Elberta is its ability to adapt itself to diverse soils ; whether 

 J. H. Hale is equally elastic in constitution remains to be seen. The 

 variety is still on probation in New York with the chances growing stronger 

 each year that it will take high place among commercial peaches. We 

 do not expect it to drive Elberta from the markets but the markets will 

 be shared between the two, J. H. Hale reaching the fruit-stands several 

 days in advance of Elberta. Would that there were as good a commercial 

 variety to follow Elberta. 



This remarkable variety is a chance seedling found by J. H. Hale, 

 South Glastonbury, Connecticut. From its characters, one sees at once 

 that it is either an offspring or is very closely related to Elberta — at 

 first many thought the two were identical. After having thoroughly 

 tested the new^ variety in commercial orchards in both Connecticut and 

 Georgia, Mr. Hale decided that it was worth introducing and sold the 

 new peach to the William P. Stark Nurseries, Stark City, Missouri. The 

 distribution of the variety was begun in 191 2 and possibly no other tree- 

 fruit has ever been so rapidly propagated and so widely distributed as 

 has the J. H. Hale in the past four years. 



Tree vigorous, upright-spreading, open-topped, productive; trunk of medium thick- 

 ness, smooth; branches smooth, ash-gray overspread with dark reddish-brown; branchlets 

 medium in thickness and length, with long intemodes, olive-green overspread with red, 

 smooth, glabrous. 



