43 



PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 273 



Connecticut, New York, and Michigan, under such names as Connecti- 

 cut. stunl.tjN /,'//'. Xuf[in\ J' ii nt/ Lind, Leopard, (Jn <>f s/,,I><t. Sea- 

 </rr<?s Smock, 6W, and IHW* < '// /'//. The place, time, and source of the 

 introduction of this type of peach to America are as yet undetermined, 

 but it was frequently found to endure temperatures that destroyed 

 the fruit buds of the other varieties in the same orchards, and thus 

 achieved marked popularity among commercial planters in the regions 

 mentioned. The form of the type that had long been perpetuated by a 

 Mr. Hill, of Chili, Monroe County, N. Y., was very widely propagated 

 and planted under the name " Hiil/s Chili" and soon became the 

 leading commercial peach of the most northern peach districts. This 

 variety or type reproduces itself .through its seedlings quite closely, 

 and for a number of } T ears many nurseries in Michigan propagated 

 their stocks of it for sale as seedlings. The resulting trees, when they 

 came into bearing in the orchards, were chiefly of the "Chili" type, 

 though several wide variations in color of flesh and time of ripen- 

 ing have come to notice, several of which, such as Lewis, Brown, 

 Early Husted, and Early Michigan, have been named and propagated. 

 Others, like Lafleur, that vary but slightly, are considered sufficiently 

 superior to the parent in some important particulars to be worthy of a 

 distinct name and place in the orchards. 



The variety of this type to attain commercial notice most recently in 

 western Michigan is the Welch, the original tree of which was received 

 by Mr. Charles B. -Welch, of Douglas, Mich., in 1880, in a bundle of 

 25 seedling "Chili," from the nearby nurseiy of Walsh and W r ade. 

 Of these 25 seedlings, all proved to be good typical "Chili" except 

 the one now described, and one other, which was a good white- 

 fleshed freestone. The tree of the Welch ripened its fruit noticeably 

 later than the Chili, and was found to yield fruit of superior quality, 

 as well as to be less subject to injury by curl-leaf and drought than 

 its parent and equally as resistant to cold. At the request of Mr. 

 Welch, a few trees were propagated from it by the late Mr. James F. 

 Taylor, of Douglas, Mich., about 1888 to 1890, and its propagation 

 and planting has gradually increased in western Allegan Count} T since 

 that time. It is considered equal to its parent in every respect and 

 superior in habit of growth of tree, ability to endure drought and 

 resistance to curl-leaf and rot, and ripens at a more opportune time, 

 thus lengthening the season of supply of hardy varieties. So far as 

 known it has not been fruited in other States than Michigan, but is 

 considered worthy of test throughout northern peach districts. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish to slightly obovate; size medium to large; surface 

 smooth, very slightly downy, color rich, rather light yellow, with a 

 bright blush of red on the exposed side; c&vity regular, medium in 



