1881 . ] 
THE WASHINGTON RATH-RIPE PEACH.—THE BEST NEW PLANTS OF 1880. 
25 
THE WASHINGTON RATH-RIPE PEACH. 
[Plate 532.] 
HEN this Peach was exhibited at 
Ludlow last summer by Mr. Bond, 
it created quite a sensation, its very 
handsome appearance being found to be equalled 
by its excellent quality. Shortly after this, 
Mr. Bond was good enough to send us the 
sample from which our figure was prepai’ed, 
and in which both artist and colour-printer 
have acquitted themselves with success. The 
variety, which appears to be not generally 
known, is described in the Fruit Manual as an 
excellent Peach, deserving of general cultiva¬ 
tion : one which, from the firmness of its flesh, 
bears carriage well. The flesh is described as 
firm, yellow, very tender and juicy, and having 
a rich vinous flavour. Of its beauty, our 
figure, which is not exaggerated, beai's ample 
testimony. We append a few notes having 
reference to its high quality, with which we 
have been favoured by Mr. Bond :— 
“ I have much pleasure in giving a favour¬ 
able description of this fine peach, which, for 
appearance and flavour when fully ripe, is not 
to be surpassed. It is one of those peaches 
that will ripen fully and well on the tree. I 
exhibited it at Ludlow Horticultural Show 
last August, and gained the first prize; but, 
owing to the large size of the fruit, the 
judges, Messrs. Westland, Ward, and Edwards, 
were doubtful if its flavour was equal to its 
appearance, so, to make sure, they adopted 
what is certainly with Peaches a rather novel 
plan—that of cutting and tasting the fruit, 
when all doubt of its excellence was removed. 
“ I have grown it for five years. It is a 
strong grower, but the crop it bears of such 
fine large fruit is the best kind of pruning for 
it. It is in the second house, and being a 
late peach, is very useful. The flesh is of a 
rich orange-colour, and remarkably sweet and 
melting. It keeps well after gathering. 
“ The variety is of American origin, as its 
name portends. My employer pi’onounced it 
the best Peach of the season, and our Peach 
season here, with three houses, extended from 
April 24tli until October. Thanks to the late 
Mr. Rivers, the season may be continued for 
a long time by making a good selection ; 
and we are equally indebted to American 
enterprise for some good early sorts, namely, 
the Alexander , which I fruited on April 24tli, 
followed by Amsden Fine and Haines’ Early 
(not Hale’s, as mostly called), a most delicious 
fruit. I could enumerate many more equally 
good, but all my practice is under glass, the 
situation and seasons rendering out-door Peach 
culture here impracticable.”—G. Bond, 1 Valcot 
Parle Gardens , Lydbury North. 
THE BEST NEW PLANTS OF 1880. 
Gj'pN the list which follows, we have brought 
{, together some of the more remarkable 
and interesting of the New Plants of the 
3Jo 
year, as distinguished from garden seedlings. 
There are many others which will be welcomed 
to our collections, inasmuch as the}'- will meet 
individual tastes ; and other good things are 
omitted, on account of their greater or less 
resemblance to subjects already well known in 
our gardens. 
Adiantum aneitense. —A stove evergreen species 
of ornamental character, allied to A. Cunningliamii 
and A. fulvum , and likely to prove a useful decorative 
plant, somewhat taller than the universal favourite, A. 
cuneatum. Pacific Islands. Mr. Bull.- Adiantum 
monochlamys. —A greenhouse evergreen fern of 
dwarfish habit, forming a tuft of some 6 or 8 inches 
high, the fronds ovate, with small, wedge-shaped 
pinnules, which each bear a solitary large sorus. 
Japan. Messrs. Yeitch. 
Albuca Nelsoni. —'A fine greenhouse bulb, 
equalling the Galtonias iu beauty, with a scape 4 to 
5 feet high, well furnished with large ascending 
white flowers, having a stripe of red down the back 
of each segment. Natal. 
Anthericum Makoyanum.—A greenhouse herb¬ 
aceous foliage plant of moderate size, with arching 
linear acuminate leaves of a dark green colour, 
margined and striped with creamy white; flowers 
white and unattractive. Origin not known. 
Anthurium Andreanum. —This has now flowered 
under cultivation in various places, and justifies the 
anticipations formed of it, as the figure in our last 
volume testifies. In the size, substance, and brilliant 
scarlet hue of its spathes, it is most gorgeous, and 
in the general contour of the plant has a marked 
nobility of aspect.- Anthurium Harrisii pul- 
chrum. —A charming stove plant, with a short 
caudex, elongate lanceolate leaves of a bright green, 
edged aud dotted with white, and a creamy-white 
spathe, sot off by a deep crimson spadix. Brazil. 
Mr. Bull. 
Asplenium Baptistii.—A free-growing-evergreen 
stove fern, which has the aspect of a bipinuate form 
of A. contiguum, but whether really so or not, it is 
a most distinct and ornamental plant, with numerous 
pinna? aud a few elongate pinnules. South-Sea 
