238 Varieties of the Peach. 
been found that some glandless-leaved varieties, although sub- 
ject to mildew, resist curl-leaf. Therefore it may be worth white 
to combat the mildew. This has been done effectually by 
treatment which will be described in a later chapter. 
As with curl-leaf, mildew is prevalent some years and slight 
in others. 
VARIETIES OF THE PEACH. 
Nearly all varieties of the peach have been tried in Cali- 
fornia, and, as with other fruits, it has been found that varieties 
must be chosen with reference to their success in special loca- 
tions. Choice has also to be made according to the purpose of 
the grower, whether for early marketing, for sale to canners, for 
drying, or distant shipment or for late marketing. As with 
apples, there is little use of planting early varieties (unless it 
be for home or local use) except in very early regions. An early 
peach from a late region is killed by competition with better 
middle season sorts from the earlier regions. 
In an early region one can plant early, middle, and late 
varieties to advantage, and thus secure a very long-fruiting sea- 
son. The peach season in interior districts begins at the first of 
June with the Alexander, and continues to the end of Novem- 
ber with local seedlings—giving six months of peaches. Of 
course the very early and very late sorts are only of use for 
marketing as table fruit. The most important series is a fine 
succession of mid-season peaches, suitable either for canning, 
drying, or distant shipment. Such a selection can be made 
from the tables and descriptions which will be given later. 
Color is a most important item in the peach. While can- 
ners and Eastern shippers use the beautiful white peaches to 
advantage, the fashion for canning and drying is now strong in 
support of the yellow-fleshed varieties and Clingstone. The 
yellow peaches are in greatest demand. The color about the 
pit is also an important point. Canners demand a peach, 
whether white or yellow, which is almost free from color at the 
pit, because the extraction of the red color dyes the juice; in 
drying, the demand just now is for a yellow peach with a red 
center, because the colors give the dried fruit a more attractive 
appearance. Of course there is a market for dried white peaches, 
but the preference is for the yellow. 
In the enumeration following the table only those seed- 
lings which are now commercially propagated are included. 
Many which were prominent ten years ago have been dropped 
by this test. The writer has record of many others, some of 
them likely to rise to important place, which are reserved until 
after further trial. 
