- 2 - 



Our efforts in rootstock breeding are now aimed at developing 

 cultivars with the cold-hardiness of 'Siberian-C ' , and the red fol- 

 iage of 'Rutgers Red Leaf, combined with nematode, crown gall and 

 canker resistance, and greater tolerance to finer textured soils 

 that are not as well drained. This work is just under way and will 

 require many years of selection and testing to develop improved 

 varieties. 



We also have a major peach breeding program to develop cold- 

 hardy, attractive, disease resistant freestone cultivars with high 

 quality suitable for the fresh market and also suitable for canning 

 and freezing. In 1968, we released 'Harbelle' and 'Canadian Har- 

 mony. ' They were followed by 'Harbrite' in 1969, 'Harken' in 1970 

 and 'Harbinger' in 1971. We are receiving many encouraging reports 

 on the performance of these new varieties in Canada and the United 

 States. We also have several promising numbered selections which 

 require further testing before a decision can be made on their nam- 

 ing and introduction. They are presently being tested by research 

 cooperators at other Experiment Stations in Canada and the United 

 States and by cooperating growers in both countries. A summary 

 of their main features is given in Table 1. 



The testing of numbered selections from our program is con- 

 ducted by the Western Ontario Fruit Testing Association. This or- 

 ganization has contracted with Hilltop Orchards and Nurseries Inc., 

 Hartford, Michigan, to make these selections available in limited 

 quantities and under restricted propagation to interested growers 

 in the United States. They are available for test with the under- 

 standing that they are not yet proven and may not warrant commer- 

 cial introduction. Nevertheless, they have been selected for 

 cold-hardiness, tolerance to bacterial spot, eye appeal and qual- 

 ity and appear to be worthy of further test. Recently, we have 

 selected two promising cold-hardy nectarines, HWlOl and HW102, 

 that ripen 3 to 7 days, respectively, after Redhaven. ' Trees of 

 these will be available for test in 1974 and 1975. 



You should heed the advice of your Pomologists and Extension 

 Horticulturists before making too large a commitment to our new 

 varieties and numbered test selections because other varieties may 

 be better suited to your climate and the needs of your industry. 

 Limited quantities of the numbered selections are available for 

 test from Hilltop Orchards and Nurseries Inc., Hartford, Michigan, 

 and from the Western Ontario Fruit Testing Association, Harrow, 

 Ontario. The named varieties are available from the major nur- 

 series in the United States and Canada. 



