Special Report 69 



Description of the Five Races 



In describing the races, I will begin with the one that comes farthest 

 south and take them in order as they are adapted to different thermal lines 

 as we go from the citrus belt north. 



1 Peen-to ( Primus persica,var platycarpa, Decaisne) : Tree rather 

 large, vigorous, branches willow-like, come out at an angle of about 40 

 degrees ; flowers large, appear frequently in January in the states border- 

 ing on the Gulf, blooms at low temperature and very irregularly ; winter 

 buds, small, oblong, rather sharp pointed, grow close to the limb ; leaves 

 narrow, long, and inclined to hang on all winter ; fruit much flattened ; skin 

 white, mottled with carmine ; flesh white, flavor sweet but has a peculiar 

 almond taste ; seed nearly round, much compressed at the ends, corrugati- 

 ous, small, somewhat round. This' race takes its name from the variety 

 " Peen-to" which is its ancestor. This variety was imported from Austra- 

 lia by Mr. P. J. Berckmans of Augusta, Ga., in 1869, but its origin has 

 been traced to China. This variety and some seedlings from it fruit well in 

 northern part of the citrus belt. Some of its seedlings have fruited well in 

 the southern part of California. Utterly worthless a few miles from the 

 coast. Seedlings of Peen-to, however, fruit better farther north than the 

 parent variety. Angel and Waldo are seedlings of Peen-to. 



2 South China : The parent of this race is the variety Honey. 

 The tree is a medium sized grower, branches come out at an angle of about 

 50 degrees and curve upward, less willow-like than Peen-to. Winter buds 

 very prominent, round to oval, two or three buds often occur at the same 

 place, occasionally projected axillary buds occur ; buds occur on the limb 

 all along to the top leaving no vacant places as we see in the " Persian" 

 race. The dark red buds stand out from the limb at an angle of about 50 

 degrees ; leaves small, slightly trough-shaped, in the fall the color become 

 slightly brownish red, foreshowing the color of the fruit in the young trees ; 

 hang on late in the fall ; blossoms very large and profuse, very resistant 

 to cold. A sure bearer in the Gulf States, requires short seasons 

 of rest. Fruit rather small, slightly oval and a little flattened ; suture 

 very deep at base but only extends one-third the way down, apex long 

 and recurved (see cut), has peculiar honey sweet flavor ; seed is oval with 

 apex slightly recurved, corrugations slight, prominent flange on one side. 

 Honey, which is the parent of this race is supposed to have originated in 

 Southern China hence the name of the race. Was imported from China by 

 Chas. Downing in 1850, later was placed in the care of the late Henry 

 Lyon of South Carolina where it fruited for the first time in America. Was 

 introduced for the first time in America by P. J. Berckmans in 1858. Valu- 

 able American seedlings from Honey are Pallos, Climax, Coleman and 

 Early China, 



