ON PEACHES AND NECTARINES 
But whatever the explanation, the fact remains 
that the Chinese peach is not to be looked to as 
introducing the elements of hardiness and virility. 
Nevertheless in the southern states the Chinese 
peach, which seems to be of tropical origin, thrives 
and is even quite as popular as the Persian strains. 
Fortunately some of the varieties of the Eu- 
ropean stock are vigorous and hardy growers. 
But the development of new varieties that will be 
absolutely resistant to the diseases to which the 
peach is peculiarly subject is a task that invites 
the plant experimenter. I have already referred 
to the success in this regard that attended some 
of my hybridizing experiments. 
My new peaches, named respectively the Leader 
and the National, both of them crosses of the Muir 
and Crawford stock, have been entirely free from 
any suspicion of mildew or curl-leaf. 
But there is demand for a great variety of 
peaches, and it is highly desirable that the aver- 
age stock of this important fruit should be greatly 
improved in regard to virility. 
That the peach may under favorable conditions 
live to an old age and continue in bearing is dem- 
onstrated by exceptional trees that are known to 
be half a century old, yet still retain their vigor 
and productiveness. When we contrast with this 
the familiar fact that the average peach orchard 
[167] 
