Voii. XL. No. 3. I 
Whole No. 1616. j 
NEW YORK, JAN. 15, 1881. 
, Price Five Cents. 
82.00 Per Year, 
[Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 18S1, by the Rural New-Yorker, In the office of the Librarian of Contrress at Washington.] 
$ ontological. 
THE MRS. BRETT PEACH. 
Mr. Ricketts left at this office several 
peaches of a new variety which he calls Mrs. 
Brett. They were of beautiful appearance. 
Mr. Downing favors us with the following 
description :— 
A chance seedling in the garden of Mrs. 
Maria Brett, Newburgh, N. Y. Tree vigor¬ 
ous and an abundant bearer; llawers small. 
Glands globose. Fruit large, roundish ; suture 
small, but distinct, extending a little beyond 
the apex, which is a small point; skin whit¬ 
ish, shaded over half the surface with light and 
dark red, brownish red where fully exposed ; 
flesh white—red at the stone—juicy, meltiog, 
sweet, slightly vinous, rich and of very good 
quality, separates freely from the ' stone. 
Ripens the middle of September. 
Charles Downing 
[The engraving is an exact reproduction of 
one of those left at the offlee by Mr. Ricketts. 
—Eds. 
-- 
N0TICE3 OF PEACHES. 
WITH NOTES TAKEN AT MATURITY. 
T. T. LYON. 
Yellow Rareripe is a name applied by dif¬ 
ferent persous to several distinct sorts. For 
this reason it behooves the planter to purchase 
with great care, if he would be sure of the 
genuine sort, which, according to Downing, 
has globose glands and small flowers, and 
ripens very nearly with Early Crawford. A 
peach somewhat growq here under this name 
is creamy-yellow, with scarce a trace of red, 
and ripens at least two weeks after Early 
Crawford. It is hardly “good." 
Another is of medium siza, oblong or oval 
(instead of round), rich yellow flesh, firm, 
fibrous, but melting in textnre, with mild vin¬ 
ous flavor, A good maiket variety. Neither 
of the above will sustain the character given 
in Downing’s description of the genuine va¬ 
riety. 
Richmond, which originated some years 
since with the late E. Ware Sylvester, of 
Lyons, N Y,, was at first supposed to be a com¬ 
paratively lute variety; but several years’ fruit¬ 
age determines that, while It Is an improvement 
upon Early Crawford so far as beauty of color 
is concerned, it commences to ripen while 
the other is yet in season, only continuing 
slightly longer. The tree, in nursery, is less 
vigorous than many others, although, in 
orchard, it bears a favorable comparison. In 
the Lake Shore region it is growing in popu¬ 
larity, and seems likely soon to become a lead¬ 
ing market variety, since its chief competitor, 
Early Crawford, is open to the charge of 
comparative unproductiveness, although it is 
probably even yet more extensively planted 
than any other single variety, This is cer¬ 
tainly the case within the limit of my direct 
o! servaiion. This result is, however, proba¬ 
bly .due in part to the circumstance that in 
our Western mirkets almost all yellow peaches 
of that season pass as Eirly Crawfords. 
Foster, when first disseminated, was also 
expected to extend the season of the Early 
Crawford ? but, so far, it has proved more 
nearly identical in Beason than Richmond, 
while it has not, eveu yet, succeeded in ac¬ 
quiring precedence of that old favorite in any 
important particular, 8ave possibly that of 
richer or higher coloring. Its status caunot 
yet be said to be fully determined, especially 
as a market variety. 
Honest John is one of those fickle titles 
which seem, in obedience to some unaccount¬ 
able fatality, to fasten themselves first upon 
one variety and then upon another. Fixing 
itself first npon Senate Early York, and after¬ 
wards upon Large Early York, It has since 
become a pseudonym of a yellow peach some¬ 
what known in Western New York; and thence, 
either with that, or, very probably, in con¬ 
nection with several varieties of yellow 
peaches, it seems to have been transmitted to 
Western Michigan, where, as yet, little has 
been done to detect these fallacies and identify 
the estrays. The sooner such parasitical 
names can be arrested and banished from the 
arena of civilized pomology the better for all 
concerned. 
Cooper's Mammoth is also a floating name, 
for which no person or variety seems to be 
held responsible. I received and planted 
trees under this name more than forty years 
ago, which on fruiting proved to be Early 
Crawford. I have often since seen the name, 
even in the catalogues of very pretentious 
nurseries; but it seems never yet to have be¬ 
come attached to any variety which it was 
fairly entitled to represent. In Western Mich¬ 
igan I find it given to a large, showy, serrate, 
yellow peach, which a planter here found in 
his collection, simply for the reason that he 
was unable to identify it with any known 
variety. 
-*-*--*- 
PEACHES ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF 
MARYLAND. 
J. W. KERR. 
After reading the articles of Mr. T. T. 
Lyon, of Michigan, on peaches, I think the 
influence of soil and climate on certain varie¬ 
ties asserts itself as a matter deserving intelli¬ 
gent consideration by commercial planters in 
all sections. A peach that is of value anywhere 
else, is, as a rule, not likely to lose any merit 
when introduced to the genial influences that 
notably give perfect development to all that 
tends toward quality in that fruit, here on the 
“ Peach Peninsula.” But we find that the 
“rule” works differently when some of the 
varieties that are excellent here, are taken 
elsewhere. For instance, Bilyen’s Late (or 
Comet, as it is sometimes called) intro¬ 
duced here several years ago by a Mr. Bilyen, 
and which is a fine very late peach—resem¬ 
bling “ Old Mixon Free " in size and color—is 
almost totally worthless in some sections 
farther South. The same is the case with 
several other varieties that are very good 
here. 
The Early Tillotson succeeds well enough 
here, but the more intelligent market growers 
incline to the belief that serrated leaves are 
an infallible indication of inherent weakuess 
or debility, and, guarding well the vigor and 
healthfulness of their orchards, leave the ser¬ 
rated varieties out. My own observation and 
experience In that relation compel me to in¬ 
dorse the practice. The identity of the Alex¬ 
ander and Ameden, referred to by Mr. Lyon, is 
no less marked here than in Michigan, and, in 
fact, the similarity existing among all the 
quite early kinds, is such as to prompt an in¬ 
dorsement of the views of a Pennsylvania 
pomologist as expressed in a private letter a 
few weeks back, viz. : “ When you have 
Alexander yon have all." “Troth's Early,' 
says Mr. Lyon, '* is desirable only as a prolific 
early market peach, and is hardly good enough 
even for that purpose.” Here there are few 
varieties more popular than the Troth ; in fact, 
it leads all other white fleshed sorts; its strong 
points of excellence being productiveness, 
freedom from rot, good color, shipping quali¬ 
ties equal to the best, and, with good culture,the 
quality is good, and the fruit always commands 
remunerative prices in market. 
Mountain Rose has superseded the Early 
York on this Peniusula; and properly too, as 
it is in all respects superior to the best of [the 
Early Yorks. In torn, however, the Mountain 
Rose is likely to be eclipsed for market pur¬ 
poses by Harris's Early, which is much larger, 
though not as prolific; bu^ size has a telling 
effect iu market. The feeling and tendency 
among peach growers here for the last three 
years, have been the same as described by Mr. 
Lyon as prevailing in Michigan, viz.; the 
commercial growers have been confining 
their planting largely to the yellow-fleshed 
varieties. Crawford's Early, Mary’s Choice, 
Reeves's Favorite, Crawford's Late, Beer’s 
Smock, Garey’sHold On, and Salway comprise 
the bulk of every selection, with variations in 
accord with the individual circumstances of 
the planter. 
The action of the canners has been mainly 
instrumental iu creating the demand for 
yellow-fleshed peaches. As is plain to every¬ 
body, a yellow-fleshed peach, when canned, 
carries a deliciousness in its appearance far 
surpassing in attractiveness the white-fleshed 
kinds ; and, indeed, well ripened Mary’s 
Choice (i, e, when the fruit is just ready to 
merge iuto the soft stage).when nicely eauned i 
are superior iu a large degree to any white- 
fleshed peach that it baa been my good fortune 
to test. Prince’s Excelsior is another 
yellow peach tnat is very flue for canning, re¬ 
taining, to a large extent, all the superior 
flavor it has when freshly picked from the 
tree. i 
At the present time another demand is 
springing up very rapidly, that bids fair to 
divide popularity between yellow fleshed and 
white-flashed peaches. This is the evaporating 
or drying industry. In this the requirement is 
the opposite of that in the canning business, 
to insure the largest remuneration ; as the 
whiter and more delicate in appearance the 
evaporated fruit, the higher its rank in market. 
Hence, those who are now planting with 
a view to drying, want mainly such kinds as 
Troth, Old Mixon Free. Moore's Favorite, 
Mountain Rose, Btump-the-World, Silver 
Medal, etc. This industry will secure to the 
peach grower advantages which he has not 
enjoyed heretofore, as he was compelled to 
ae 11 his fruit when ripe, whether the price was 
high or low, or otherwise allow large quantities 
to rot iu ihe orchard. Now, when the prices 
in market rule too low to afford compensation 
for his trouble, he can dispose of his fruit to 
better advantage either by drying it himself, 
or having it dried on shares by other parties ; 
so that the growing of peaches is likely to be 
continued with increased zeal for years to 
come. 
Caroline Co., Md. 
®tje fintprU. 
THE PARENTAGE OF THE GRAPE OF THE 
FUTURE. 
Editor of the Rural :—Please explain 
which you mean—Vitis aestivalis, or V. cordi- 
folia, when you say iu the,. Rural for ’80 on 
page 707, “ It would seen that we have the 
least to hope for from set ngs of, or crosses 
with, the Frost or Suipu Grape.” If you 
mean V. cordifolla, then ye may be right, 
but hybridists would not like io dispense with 
even this class, and we generally esteem V. 
lestivalis the most promising of all out- classes. 
D. S. Marvin. 
[We meant what we said, viz., that we have 
least to hope for from seedlings of, or crosses 
with, either the Frost Grape (V. cordi folia) or 
the Summer Grape (V. Aestivalis). Ed-.] 
Prof. Husmann takes Mr. Marvin's view. He 
says that he is inclined to believe that only the 
Summer aud Frost Grapes will give us the 
true wine grapes of the country and that, if 
we can increase their size somewhat, they will 
also be ihe best table grapes. 
Newburgh, Dec. 22, W. 
Ed. Rural In reply to your note I do not 
know of any seedliug from Vitis restivalis of 
any worth, of my own knowledge. 
Chap Downing. 
VUU .Estival] 
It is to this class we look ( our best wine 
grape-, of which Ilerbemont, q nthiana, Cun¬ 
ningham and Norton’s Virginia are the most 
promiuent old sorts. By crossing these with 
Labrusca aud other classes there is no doubt 
that grand results may be obtained, and a few 
have already been produced that yield a most 
deiightful dry wine. Prominent among these 
I would mention No. S31 raised by Mr. Rick¬ 
etts. It is -vEstivalis crossed with Labrusca, 
partaking more of the former than of the lat¬ 
ter; color, black; berry, medium; pulp, soft, 
tender and juicy. In 1878 its must stood 105 
sacchariue matter or sugar contained, in the 
expressed juice, and 7.50-100 per mill. acid. 
I have seen the wine from this grape fre¬ 
quently sampled while standing in bottles 
allowed to remain partly filled, and at the. 
same time it was perfectly clear and bril¬ 
liant, retaining all Us flavor aud bouquet. 
When the grape is pressed immediately 
after crushing, it produces a pale, amber 
wine of fine flavor, and although the 
samplesof which I speak are but two years 
old, they are quite soft and mellow. Mr, 
Ricketts has other promising seedlings of vari¬ 
ous iEstivalis crosses, which may prove valu- 
ble for wine. I hope some day not very far 
distant, to send you samples of some of my 
THE MRS. BRETT PEACH,—From Life.-Fig. 23 
