57 



PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 405 



improvement through selection of wild varieties already existing, seems 

 to have been overlooked. Attention has been called to several choice 

 varieties, in the reports of the Pomologist of the Department of Agri- 

 culture from time to time, especially to Early Golden, Golden Gem, 

 and Marion. At the present time not fewer than 35 varieties have 

 received names and are being grown in an experimental way. 



One of the best of these varieties that have reached the office of the 

 Pomologist is the Delmas, a native seedling on the grounds of Mr. 

 A. G. Delmas, of Scranton, Miss., who, after observing its superior 

 quality for some twenty years, planted 26 suckers from it in orchard 

 form in a suitable location on his place in 1899. These trees, which 

 were in bearing in 1902, attracted the attention of the writer in 

 November of that year by their good size, handsome appearance, and 

 fine quality. Later Mr. Delmas furnished the Department scions for 

 experimental distribution, so that the variety is now under test in sev- 

 eral localities. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish oblate; size medium to large; surface smooth; color 

 reddish yellow, covered with a thin whitish bloom, remaining bright 

 when full ripe; cavity regular, of medium size and depth; calyx, con- 

 sisting of four medium-sized bluish green sepals, somewhat reflexed 

 when fruit is ripe; apex slightly protruding; skin thin, tenacious; 

 flesh yellowish, translucent, meaty; flavor sweet and rich; quality very 

 good; seeds 7 or 8, rather large, dark brown. Season, October and 

 early November, in southern Mississippi. 



The tree is a strong grower, of upright habit, with large leaves. It is 

 very precocious and productive. The variety is considered especially 

 promising for experimental commercial planting in the Gulf States, 

 because of its productiveness and the large size, bright and durable 

 color, and fine quality of the fruit. 



The specimens illustrated on Plate LV were grown by Mr. A. G. 

 Delmas, of Scranton, Miss. 



PECANS. 



[PLATES LVI AND LVIL] 



Of our native nut-bearing trees none promises to become of such 

 pomological importance as the pecan. Within the region to which it 

 is well adapted for cultivation, which may be roughly stated as the 

 Mississippi Valley below St. Louis, the South Atlantic, and the Gulf 

 States, including Texas, no other nut tree, either foreign or introduced, 

 can be considered as fairly in competition with it. Though long neg- 

 lected as a possible profitable orchard tree, it has, during the past 

 fifteen years, assumed considerable importance, and extensive orchards 

 have been planted in most of the Southern States. Previous to about 



2M 



