1878.] 
AMERICAN AGrRIC QLT URIST. 
381 
Colony in consequence of cropping the leaves 
of some leguminous plants to which they were 
attracted. What made the matter worse for the 
botanists, was that the very plants which did 
the mischief had been recommended by one of 
them (Mr. Preiss, a German,) “ as the best thing 
the Agricultural Society could cultivate, as artificial 
food for stock.” But another botanist, Drum¬ 
mond, a canny Scotchman, got up some experi¬ 
ments, and proved that the people were right in 
charging the damage to these very species (of Gas- 
irolobium) which the German botanist on general 
principles, expected to be innocent and useful. 
The same plants are fatal to goats, and even to 
cows and horses. The symptoms, as described, 
are almost exactly like those produced by the 
Loco-wecd. In other parts of Australia, spe¬ 
cies of a different genus ( Swainsonia ), very like 
Astragalus, and like the Bladder Senna ( Colutea ), 
destroy cattle in the same way. Now the leaves of 
Bladder Senna, like those of true Senna, contain 
some Cathartine, and purge but do not poison. 
Those of the poisonous species in Australia are 
[ solution that this is not a new thing under the sun. 
' The next thing is to learn, if possible, the exact 
| nature of this fatal affection. For this it is desirable 
that some competent persons, both in Colorado and 
California, should make post mortem examinations 
of the stomach and brain of some of the various af¬ 
fected animals, of sheep as well as cattle and horses. 
Early Feacli.es—The “Waterloo.” 
When “ Hale’s Early ” made its appearance some 
15 or more years ago, it marked an advance in peach 
culture, much as the “Early Rose ” did in potato 
growing. In both cases we have gone far in advance 
of these, but they showed possibilities, and served 
as a sort of standard for the comparison of new 
comers. The fair quality, great beauty, and especi¬ 
ally the earliness of “Hale’s Early,” caused it to 
be very widely and largely planted. But a general 
disappointment followed, for save in a few locali¬ 
ties the fruit, as soon as about to ripen, commenced 
to decay, and it at present proves profitable in the 
hands of but very few. The “Early Beatrice” 
came next; it was claimed to be earlier than Hale’s 
and free from its fault; but it proved quite too 
small for profit, as did some others of Rivers’ 
seedlings introduced at the same time. Following 
these were numerous native seedlings, largely from 
seed of Hale’s Early, until at the present time the 
number of varieties claiming the title of “earliest 
and best” is so large that even those who make a 
specialty of raising peach trees and peaches can 
hardly keep the run of them. These new varieties 
come from several States, and each season adds to 
their number. Several of the prominent new early 
peaches are so nearly alike that one so experienced 
as Charles Downing, in speaking of some of them 
in a recent article in “ Gardeners’ Monthly,” says: 
ties to be earlier than the other. Our correspond¬ 
ent, R. J. Black, Fairfield Co., O., found that both 
“Alexander ” and “Amsden’s June ” commenced to 
ripen June 28th, and that half the crop was ripe on 
July 4th. He says of these : “These two are very 
much alike in tree and fruit....‘Alexander’ is 
probably a little the larger, while ‘ Amsden ’ is the 
greater bearer. Not that ‘ Alexander’ is at all shy, 
but ‘ Amsden ’ is profusely productive and impera¬ 
tively needs thinning. Both are of fair size, at¬ 
tractive, and of good quality.”—We agree with Mr. 
B. that ripe peaches in Fairfield Co., O., the first 
week in July, “is something to be grateful for.” 
Fig. 2 — the bale removed.— (See next page.) 
Knowing Mr. Randolph Peters,Wilmington, Del., 
to be largely engaged in growing peach trees, and 
to be thoroughly familiar with the orchards of the 
great peach district comprising Delaware, and parts 
of Maryland and Virginia, we requested of him a 
report of the new early peaches during the past 
season. Mr. P. writes substantially as follows: 
“ There are so many new extra early peaches that 
found to contain an alkaloid, apparently Oytisin, 
to which the injurious properties are due. What 
we have to suggest, is, that the herbage of Loco, 
and of some of the Californian Rattle-weeds, should 
be submitted to chemical analysis, to determine if 
they contain an alkaloid, and if it is the same or 
similar to Ogtisin. No antidote has yet been found, 
so far as we know. If any should be discovered, 
and if the poisonous principle proves to be essential¬ 
ly the same in Australia and in the United States, 
the same treatment would be applicable to both. 
All that the botanists can now do is to indicate the 
source of the trouble, ami to offer the poor con- 
“ If the four kinds were put in a dish it would puz¬ 
zle a good pomologist to separate them, and yet 
there is no doubt but they are all distinct kinds.” 
This close resemblance is not to be wondered at, 
when we recollect the marked tendency of some 
varieties of peach to reproduce themselves in their 
seedlings, and it is very probable that the kinds 
so much alike arc seedlings of the same variety. 
The two most prominent of the newer early peaches 
are “Amden’s June” and “Alexander,” varieties 
so nearly alike that some claim them to be identical. 
We find that reports differ as to the relative earli¬ 
ness of these, each being claimed in different locali¬ 
it is hard to keep up with them, and it will be some 
time before all are properly tested. The following 
six varieties have been fruited now for several 
years, viz., Early Beatrice, Early Louise, Early 
Rivers,Early Alexander, Amsden’s June, and Brigg’s 
Red May, and I am fully satisfied the Amsden June 
and Early Alexander are the best so far as tested. 
Messrs. Shinn & Co., of Alameda Co., California, 
wrote me July 22d last, that they had fruited ex¬ 
tensively Amsden’s June and Early Alexander, side 
by side, and that they could really detect no differ¬ 
ence in the time of ripening or the quality or value 
of the fruit, and I have the same reports from 
