THE STETSON'S SEEDLING PEACH. 



Stetson's Seedling. Magazine of Horticulture, vol. xiii. p. 114. 



So common is tlie practice of raising seedling peaches in this country, 

 that many cultivators produce them only in this way, and scarcely think 

 it necessai'y to resort to the labor of budding. That the peach is very 

 easily grown from seeds, and perhaps with more certainty of procuring 

 good varieties than any other fruit, is undoubtedly true ; yet, to rely 

 upon this mode for the general purposes of cultivation, is neither econ- 

 omy of time or money. There is a very great difference in the quality 

 of peaches ; and, to raise a seedling of the excellence of the Grosse 

 Mignonne or Noblesse, to say nothing of being superior, as it should 

 be, in some respects, to be deserving of a name, is a task not very easily 

 accomplished. That our American varieties of the peach will be so much 

 improved as to equal or sui-pass any we now possess, there is no reason 

 to doubt; but it will be a work of time, and not to be expected at once. 



The splendid variety now figured was raised by N. Stetson, Esq., of 

 Bridgewater, Mass. It was an accidental seedling, which sprung up in 

 his garden in 1843, and, being a promising-looking tree, it was removed, 

 in 1845, to a favorable spot, on the south side of the house, where it 

 could be trained to a trellis. It grew rapidly, and, in the fall of 1846, 

 it first produced a few specimens of fruit of such remarkable excellence 

 as at once to place it among the very choicest varieties in cultivation. 

 Since then, it has continued to bear abundantly, and to fully maintain its 

 high character; ranking with the Noblesse in size, surpassing it in 

 beauty, and equalling it in its delicious flavor. The tree is a vigorous, 

 rapid, and healthy grower. 



Leaves. — Rather large, and somewhat wavy, crenated, with small 

 globose glands. 



Flowers. — Small. 



Fruit. — Large, about two and a half inches broad, and two and a 

 half long : Form, roundish, full at the base, and tapering little to a very 

 prominent point at the apex ; suture very indistinct, with a moderately 

 deep and narrow cavity at the stem : Skin, slightly downy, greenish 

 white, delicately and beautifully marbled and abruptly shaded with deep 

 crimson on the sunny side : Flesh, white, fine, rayed with pink at the 

 stone, from which it parts freely, very melting and juicy, brisk, exceed- 

 ingly rich and luscious : Stone, large, broad, and rather thick, but 

 deeply and coarsely furrowed, and acutely pointed. 



Ripe from the middle to the last of September. 



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