FRUIT NOTES. - Jarch 1953 



RELATIVE HARDINESS OF NEliV PEACH VARIETIES 



Twenty-two new varieties of peaches were tested for their relative resistance 

 to subzero temperatures during the third week of February, Several shoots of each 

 variety were placed in our freezing equipment and exposed to temperatures of -10 F. 

 and -12°F, During the freezing run the rate of temperature fall was 3 degrees per 

 hour. As soon as the peach shoots had warmed up to room temperature the fruit buds 

 were cut open and the number of live buds was determined, 



\fi\±le there was considerable variation in the number of dead buds found in 

 each variety at the two temperatures, it was possible to group the varieties into 

 three groups. They were grouped into hardy, medium hardy and tender varieties, 

 Ihe following table lists the varieties according to their relative hardiness. 



Hard y 



Early-Red-Fre 

 Dixigem 

 Prairie Rose 

 Prairie Daybreak 

 Prairie Sunrise 

 Siimmerrose 

 Early Halehaven 

 Prairie Dawn 

 Prairie Schooner 



Medium Hardy 



Vifildrose ■ 



Prairie Rambler 



Redskin 



Starking Delicious 



Redhaven 



Jerseyland 



July Elberta 



Tender 



Early East 

 Fairhaven 

 Golden Early Bird 

 Honey Dew Hale 

 New Day 

 Sullivan's Elberta 



The varieties which are listed as hardy and medium hardy all had enough live 

 buds after being subjected to -10°F. to produce a satisfactory copnercial crop. 

 At -12°F. the hardy varieties still had sufficient live buds for a crop, but some 

 of the medium hardy varieties did not. Some of the tender varieties had sufficient 

 live buds for a crop at -10°, but none of them had enough live buds at -12° for a 

 crop. 



We realize that this report covers only one test and that more testing will be 

 required before the final evaluation of the hardiness of each variety can be 

 determined. However, the report does give .some indication of the hardiness of the 

 varieties, so it might be wise for growers to go slov; in planting the varieties^ 

 listed as tender until we have more information as to just how much cold they will 

 stand. 



W, D. Yfeeks 

 J, S, Bailey 



f- -;;- ^- * 



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HARDII^SS m CULTIVATED BLUEBERRIES 



In many parts of Massachusetts cultivated blueberries are grown in situations 

 where cold injury is a' constant threat. In such places cold resistance is an 

 important quality for a blueberry variety to have. Broadly speaking, there are two 

 types of cold resistance which are desirable - resistance to extremely low tempera- 

 ture in winter and resistance to late frost in spring. Some varieties do not 

 possess both types. 



