34 



VARIETIES OF PEACHES. 



The past season is the first one for about ten years when there has 

 been fruit enough to compare the merits of varieties for New Eng- 

 land. We give the results of the comparison of eighteen varieties 

 thai fruited abundantly in the college orchard. A few other kinds 

 produced a small number of specimens, but not enough to warrant a 

 decision as to their value. 



The wliUe flesJied varieties which fruited, in the order of ripening, 

 are as follows : Arasden, Alexander, Schumaker, Waterloo, Moun- 

 'tain Rose, Coolidge. Holland (local seedling), Oldmixon, Morris 

 White and Stump. Of these the first four are so nearly alike, 

 although varying slightly in minor details, that they should be given 

 under one name. 



The Coolidge, Oldmixon and Stump were the most productive and 

 profitable. 



The yelloio fleshed varieties are Crawford's Early, Crawford's Late, 

 Reeves' Favorite, Red Cheek Melocoton, Foster, Wheatland, Crosby 

 (Excelsior), and Wager. Of these the Crawford's Late, Foster, 

 Reeves' Favorite, Wheatland and Crosb}^ (Excelsior) produced the 

 best crop. 



The Crosby (Excelsior) is a new variety which has attracted much 

 attention, and is being advertised extensively as the most hardy 

 yellow peach. It resembles the Wheatland closely. It originated in 

 the eastern part of the state, and on the college grounds has borne 

 four successive crops. It is of medium size, of a deep yellow color, 

 with brilliant red spreading and splashed over the exposed side. In 

 quality it is one of the best yellow fleshed peaches. Its small size, 

 when the trees are allowed to overbear, and even under average ordi- 

 dary cultivation seems, at this time, to be its only fault. To make 

 the fruit even of average size heroic thinning must be practiced. 



WINTER KILLING OF THE PEACH BUDS. 



During the past ten years very few fruit buds have escaped 

 destruction, but, if one-tenth of all that form develop into blossoms 

 and set fruit, the trees would be so heavily loaded as to break down 

 with the weight. To determine the time of this destruction, and to 

 ascertain the number of buds which are destroyed, weekly observation 

 of about 100 buds of each variety w^ere made through the winter. 

 The results of these observations show that the buds were largely 

 destroyed before the middle of December, and generally before the 



