430 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish ; size medium to large ; cavity regular, medium 

 to large, deep, gradual; suture shallow except at cavity, extending 

 from cavity to beyond the apex ; apex a small point in the suture, in 

 a~slightly depressed basin ; surface soft, velvety ; color creamy white, 

 blushed and splashed with crimson; down medium short, easily 

 removed; skin thin, tender; flesh greenish white, with yellowish 

 veins, tinged with red at stone, tender, melting, juicy; stone oval, 

 free, small ; flavor mild subacid, pleasant ; quality good to very good ; 

 tree a rapid grower and an early and prolific bearer ; glands globose. 

 Season a month later than the Alexander peach, or about the middle 

 of August, in southeast Nebraska. 



This variety, though apparently not grown extensively, has become 

 quite widely distributed in Nebraska, Iowa, and other middle western 

 sections, where it is one of the most reliable bearers. It has proved 

 to be one of the hardiest early freestone varieties, both in tree and 

 bud, having endured with but slight injury winter temperatures 

 which seriously damaged most other varieties. 1 The fruit, however, 

 is said to be somewhat susceptible to brown-rot. 



A late peach ripening in October, which originated at Lincoln, 111., 

 was introduced about the year 1894 under the name " Eussell " and 

 was distributed to some extent by a nursery located at that place. 

 This variety does not appear to have become widely disseminated, 

 and so far as known the name " Russell " as applied to this particu- 

 lar sort has been published only in the catalogues of the nursery 

 company which disseminated it. That variety has not been propa- 

 gated by this company since 1903. 2 



The specimen illustrated in Plate LIII was grown by Mr. F. O. 

 Harrington, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa. 



LAIRE PLUM. 

 [PLATE LIV.] 



EARLY HISTORY. 



The Laire plum is a native variety which has gradually assumed 

 much regional importance during the last few years. A recent 

 investigation of the botanical status of this plum made by Mr. 

 W. F. Wight, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, indicates that it is 

 very closely related to Prunus orthosepala Koehne and may prop- 

 erly be considered a form of that species. 



1 Letter from Prof. R. F. Howard, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Dec. 11, 

 1911. 



2 Letter from Mr. W. E. Jones, December, 1911. 



