u 
‘ 
ber Cling” and were of a whitish color and rather poor quality, but it 
ICULTURE.) ~ 
* 
sails Ste pperhen ¥ = 
i : vr. Jn flavor it is'rich and 
delicate and without foxiness. The pulp is very tender, 
Marie Louise. . 
me ta 
This is another of Mr. Huber’s seedlings, The cluster.is about 
_like that of Concord. The berry is round, rather thick skinned, an es & 
C . . . ~ 
in color a rich greenish yellow. The flavor is very pleasant. © = 
Pa , bee's * 
| eG. oF. 
THE PEACH. Shee oe 
2%) 
Taking the country over, the crop of 1887 was a failure. Ina very Bet 
few sections it was medium, but nowhere heavy. Severe cold mM ,_ 
/ 
winter, spring frosts, ‘“‘ yellows,” and the ravages of the ‘‘rose-bug” 
(Macrodactylus subspinosus), although acting in different localities, ~ 
have combined to produce this unfortunate result. Californiaalone 
had a good crop. What few peach trees there were in Arizonalarge  ~ 
enough to bear, producedabundantly. Specimens were receivedfrom —_ 
there on November 20 in such sound condition that they were keptfor 
fully amonth later. - These specimens came under the name ‘‘ Decem- _ 
showed what has been done in that region, and suggests what else 
might bedone. In Florida, southern Texas, and other sections lying ~ of 
-next the Gulf of Mexico, a different class of peaches must be grown 
from thosethat succeed inthe North. Butas this subjectis specially 
treated in a report by Mr. G. Onderdonk, of Nursery, Tex., which ,- 
appears as part of the present report of this division, | willonly say ~~ 
that there is no doubt of the truth of the above statement. The Asi-~ 
atic varieties seem to do best, and I hope next year to giveadetailed = 
account of some of the newer varieties belonging to this strain, Mr. 
J. A. Bidwell, of Orlando, and Mr. James P. De Pass, of Archer, 
Fla., have brought out several new varieties of this character which 
are worthy of extended trial in that State. Mr. Onderdonk, of 7 
Texas, has long been engaged in similar experiments. hee 
- THE PLUM. 
There is an increasing interest in plum culture in many partsof —— 
the country. Of course California and Oregon are far ahead of all 
other States, because of the absence of curculio. All species of | 
plums do well there, but the Huropean varieties are almost en- | 
tirely planted. The bulk of the crop is dried, and is already hay- ~~ 
ing a marked effect upon our importations. The quality is fully — 
equal to the best foreign brands. Il have never seen elsewhere suc! 
large and fair-looking dried prunes as those sent to this office from 
Oregon. They were made from Coe’s Golden Drop plum. Arizona, 
New Mexico, and the Rio Grande valley, near El Paso, Tex., also , 
grow good plums of similar varieties because of their exemption 
from curculio. Ba: 
In all that part of the United States lying east of the continental ~~ 
divide this insect pest still holds sway, with the exception of avery ; 
few localities. The most favored of these is a strip including buta — ~ 
few counties lying next to Lake Michigan between Grand Haven _ 
and the Straits of Mackinac. Thousands of bushels of the best of ~~ 
plums were shipped from there to Chicago, Milwaukee, and other 
¢ 
Ltt ast 
