Are Peach Buds tvith large Petals the Hardiest f 131 



ARE PEACH BUDS WITH LARGE PETALS THE 

 HARDIEST? 



By W. C. Flagg, Alton, Illino'is. 



I NOTICE the fact this current year, — and it is to some extent a rep- 

 etition of former experience, — that the buds of peach trees having 

 large blossoms seeqied to escape injury from cold to a considerably 

 greater extent than those with small. 



Conspicuous among these was the Hale's Early, which set a heavy 

 crop of fruit in localities where tender budded varieties, like the Early 

 and Late Crawford, had not more than a dozen or two specimens left 

 to the tree. The Early York (serrate), though not so hardy, was 

 pretty well set with fruit ; whilst the seedling trees throughout this 

 region, which generally are large blossomed, have a bounteous promise 

 of fruit. Even an anomalous large blossomed yellow cling among my 

 Crawford's Late is not thinned out like other yellow peaches, but is 

 full of fruit and promise. The October Yellow of Teas and a white 

 peach called Late Serrate showed the same results. 



I incline strongly to the belief, but put it in the shape of a queiy, 

 rather than of an assertion, that this exemption from injury was the 

 result, or at least the attendant foct of the large blossoms. Whether 

 the larger j^etals, enveloping in a thicker covering, better protected the 

 more vital parts of the flower, or whether they simply indicate and are 

 the result of a stronger vitality, may be a matter of speculation. I in- 

 cline to the former opinion, because I find some varieties with large 

 blossoms, but weak vitality. 



Whatever the cause, if the fact be as I suppose, we have a practical 

 hint in the selection and originating of varieties for unfavorable 

 localities, and for more certain results with a precarious crop every- 

 where. 



Downing enumerates about fifty-one varieties of peaches and eight 

 of nectarines as having the blossoms large ; and, though it is a mere 

 muster-roll, I subjoin the former as of possible interest in this con- 

 nection. 



A Bee, 



Acton Scott, 



Alexandra, 



Aster, 



Austin's Late Red, 



Barrington, 



globose, 



reniform, 

 globose, 



early August, 

 middle August, 

 early August. 

 end August, 

 middle October, 

 early September. 



