1883.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



267 



purposes. If any of these should possess unusual yet the older sorts for bedding have not yet been 

 and desirable colors and prove good bedders they I superseded. 



would be sought for, no doubt. There have been It is not unusual for the double white Bouvardia 

 numbers of seedlings raised within the past few j to produce pale pink flowers like the specimen 

 years, more than many persons have any idea of, ; sent. — Ed. G. M.] 



Fruit and Vegetable Gardening. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



NEW EARLY PEACHES. 



BY H. M. ENGLE. 



In September number of Gardeners' Monthly 

 of 1882, I gave the result of my experience with 

 new early peaches. From the crop this season I 

 see no reason to change my views of the same, 

 and therefore feel justified in repeating my former 

 assertion, viz. : that there is not actually three 

 days difference in the time of ripening of all the 

 native new varieties claimed to be two to three 

 weeks earlier than Hale's. 



My method of testing cannot be questioned, 

 /'. e., fruiting them on trees of other varieties ripen- 

 ing at the same period, which I consider the only 

 true method of testing comparative earliness. In 

 my experience there has not been a season that 

 the time of ripening was not reversed, so I have 

 given up to say which is the earliest, until I can be 

 more positive on this question. 



I have not tested all the new varieties earlier 

 than Hale's, but have fruited between twenty and 

 thirty of them, and have others of the same class 

 forthcoming, and when I find any that I am sure 

 can be recommended as uniformly earliest, the 

 public shall know it. In size, appearance, and 

 quality they prove also to be about as near alike as 

 in time of ripening, and I would venture to select 

 specimens of all those varieties that I have 

 fruited, and that the most expert judges could not 

 name them except by chance. It is still to be 

 hoped that the limit of earliness has not yet been 

 reached, and that by planting seeds from speci- 

 mens of the earhest ripening, varieties earlier than 

 any we now have may be obtained. 



Until this season I had flattered myself that 

 these new kinds would not become so subject to 



rot as Hale's, but the unusual wet weather near the 

 ripening period caused them to rot badly. 



Early Surprise which was disseminated as 

 extra early proves to ripen with Hale's, but, unless 

 it will rot much, will just fill the place of the 

 latter. It is equal, if not superior, to Hale's in 

 every respect, and in my opinion will prove a 

 valuable acquisition where the latter does not 

 succeed. I am still waiting for a freestone to make 

 its appearance as fine and as early as the earliest. 



Wheatly was represented as filling the bill, but 

 am told that it is like all early ones, half cling. I 

 have as yet seen no perfect freestone as early as 

 Hale's. 



TWO GOOD APPLES. 



BY C. B. O., BUCKS CO., PA. 



The apple crop is a partial failure over this part 

 of country, except the Krauser and Water apples. 

 The Water apple is a great favorite here on ac- 

 count of its v^onderful bearing qualities, and the 

 beautiful growth of the tree. It is of excellent 

 quality, both for cooking and eating. The fruit is 

 too tender to ship to distant markets. This is the 

 hardiest apple in my collection, both on account of 

 drouth and freezing. In some soils it is more or 

 less apt to rot on the tree, and must be sold as a 

 fall fruit. The Krauser has no superior as a 

 winter apple for market. The tree is a beautiful 

 grower, an abundant bearer, and the fruit invaria- 

 bly fair and hangs well to the tree, which is essen- 

 tial to Winter fruit. The tree is perhaps not quite 

 so hardy as the Water to resist our severe winters. 

 The Krauser bears its fruit on the inside of the 

 tree as well as the outside, and produces about 

 twice as many apples as you expect when com- 

 mencing to pick them. 



[The Water is remarkably producti^ e every- 

 where. — Ed. G. M.l 



