52 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



Hardy Peaches. 



Doubtless there are a number of workers in the United States 

 trying to obtain peaches suitable for special conditions. Better 

 shipping varieties are needed, peaches that are of high quality. 

 In Canada the Experimental Station at Vineland is paying especial 

 attention to the peach and is endeavoring to obtain varieties which 

 will be better for special purposes than any of those already on the 

 market. 



Hardy Grapes. 



There is a vast field for work with the grape. Rogers accom- 

 plished a great deal with very little labor, but years elapsed before 

 very much was done by others to supplement it. The late T. V. 

 Munson of Texas did a great work in combining the qualities of 

 different species of grapes, and left some very fine varieties as the 

 results of his labors. Some of- his grapes are specially suited for 

 Southern conditions, but his Manito, a very early grape, is proving 

 useful as far North as Ottawa. Grapes above all fruits are much 

 affected by a few degrees' difference in temperature, by the relative 

 dryness of the air, and amount of sunshine. There are grapes 

 which succeed in California which are of no value in the East, and 

 grapes grown in Massachusetts that are of no value in the colder 

 parts of Canada. New York State is breeding grapes for the East, 

 and doubtless other States as well, and we may look to see the 

 varieties grown at present gradually changed for something better. 

 Some work is also being done in Canada. Large numbers of seed- 

 lings of Rogers hybrids are being grown there in the endeavor to 

 obtain better sorts. The frost grape, Vitis riparia, grows as far 

 North as Manitoba and offers a hardy parent. Some decided 

 improvements were made on this years ago in Canada in the varie- 

 ties Brant and Canada, two sorts which ripen in the coolest seasons 

 at Ottawa and it is in procuring more and better grapes which will 

 mature in comparatively cool weather that the opportunity of the 

 plant breeder lies. 



