THE PROBLEM OF VARIETIES. 



61 



Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, states: 1 "In the consideration of commercial 

 varieties, however, we really have but one. the Elberta. and varieties maturing earlier 

 than it are not profitable, except perhaps for small local trade. The Elberta comes 

 more nearly fulfilling all the requirements of a commercial peach than any other 

 variety grown in south Missouri.*' 



In general the above statement applies to the entire Ozark region, as well as to that 

 portion of it referred to in the quotation. It is a question if the above comment relative 

 to the unprofitableness of varieties that ripen earlier than Elberta does not also apply 

 to most of those which are considerably later, though perhaps not for the same reason. 



A view of an Elberta peach orchard which has been well cared for, near Van Buren, 

 Ark., is shown in Plate VI. 



No extended account of this variety is necessary in the present consideration. Its 

 importance in this region has already been indicated. This suggests in a general way 

 the relatively high degree of perfection which it reaches under favorable conditions. 

 The statements apply to the entire region, though there are doubtless sectional differ- 

 ences in the behavior of the variety which might be noted. Some seasons, especially 

 if there is much rain during the later period of its growth or during the ripening period, 

 heavy losses may occur from brown-rot. The buds are also rather tender and subject 

 to injury by relatively slight extremes of temperature. But these are not regional 

 peculiarities; they are inherent characteristics of the variety. The excellent shipping 

 qualities of the Elberta. which have contributed largely to its great value for commer- 

 cial purposes in other regions, are usually possessed in a good measure by the Ozark- 

 grown fruit. Moreover, the ripening periods in the different sections of this region 

 are in good sequence with one another and with other regions for the advantageous 

 marketing of the fruit. 



Because of the importance of exact ripening periods of this variety in different 

 sections, the dates of first picking in different years at various places in the Ozarks 

 are given in Table IV. 



Table IV. — Dotes of first picking of the Elberta peach in different //ears at different 



places in the Ozark region. 



Place. 



ARKANSAS. 



Magnolia 



Horatio 



Corinth 



Grannis 



Cove 



Hot Springs. . .. 



Mena 



Hackett 



Russell ville 



Van Buren 



Clarksville 



Ozark 



Rudy 



Mouhtainburg . . 



Chester 



Leslie 



Springdale 



Capps . 



Eureka Springs. 



mssouBi. 



Seligman 



Koshkonong... 



Olden 



Willow Springs 

 Cedar Gap 



Approxi- Approxi- 

 mate mate ele- 

 latitude. vation. 



35 



10 



35 



20 



35 



25 



35 



25 



35 



30 



35 



30 



35 



40 



35 



40 



35 



,50 



36 



10 



36 



15 



36 



20 



36 



35 



36 



3.5 



36 



.50 



37 







37 







Feet. 



320 



400 



655 



921 



1,300 



5.50 



1,350 



900 



1,000 



450 



450 



1,100 



800 



1,500 



1,900 



1,600 



1,400 



1,440 



1,500 



1905 



1906 



Julv 10 



Julv 15 Julv 13 



Julv 20 July 26 



July 20 



July 25 Julv 20 Julv 16 



Julv 23 



Julv 25 do... 



Julv 20 



1909 



July 12 July 1 

 July 11 July 5 

 Jufv 15 ...do.... 

 Julv 13 

 ..do.... 



Julv 20 



Julv 15 



July 25 



July 12 



July 15 



Julv , 



Julv 10 



...do Julv 10 



July 3 



Julv 13 Julv 15 

 Julv 15 Julv 19 

 Do. 



Julv 10 

 Julv 23 Julv 12 Julv 20 

 Do. 



Julv 15 Julv 15 



..." Julv 20 Julv 25 



Julv 26 Julv 21 Julv 29 



Aug. 3 July 24 ......... 



Julv 22 Julv 20 



Aug. 6 I July 29 Julv 16 



Julv 28 ...do 



Aug. 1 



1.650 Aug. 6 



911 Aug. 1 July 30 July 28 



1,250 Aug. 15 Aug. 7 



1,247 Aug. 8 



1,690 lug. 6 ...do 



Julv 27 . 

 July 18 . 

 Julv 30 . 

 Aug. 3 . 

 ..do 



Peach Industry in South Missouri. Bulletin 12, Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, 1904, p. 10. 

 ~~7> 



