38 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[March, 
AMERICAN PEACHES. 
0 many of the American Peaches prove to 
be desirable for cultivation in this 
country, and the experience gained of 
English Peaclies by the mode of cultivation 
pursued in that country is so useful, that we 
are glad to print, in a somewhat condensed 
form, a Report on the varieties of this fruit cul¬ 
tivated in the Mount Hope Nurseries, published 
in the Albany Cultivator , which, with some 
additions, Mr. Barry has obligingly sent us. 
Three years ago Mr. Barry planted an 
experimental orchard of some 114 varieties, 
which came into bearing for the first time 
and enabled him to test the leading stan¬ 
dard sorts, besides many of the little known 
older kinds. The results of liis observations 
are given below, as nearly as possible in the 
order of ripening of the several varieties. 
The season of 1880 was, it appears, remark¬ 
ably favourable for the Peach crop in Western 
New York. 
Early Peaches. 
July 24 th. —We gathered fine specimens of Briggs’ 
Bed May. This variety originated in California, 
and was one of the first of the very early sorts 
brought to notice. It has much the same character 
as Alexander and Amsden. Mr. Myers, a prominent 
peach-grower of Bridgeville, Delaware, however, 
says it is less liable to rot than either. 
July 2 6th. —We have before us splendid specimens 
of Alexander and Amsden. The difference between 
them is very slight. Alexander, however, appears 
to average larger, and is less disposed to decay upon 
the tree. 
July 27 th. —We received a fine basket of Waterloo 
peaches, gathered from the original tree. These are 
fully up to the standard. Next year we hope to have 
fruit from our own trees, when the opportunities for 
comparison will be better. 
July 29 th. —We find upon our table a remarkable 
collection of peaches. Alexander, Amsden, High’s 
Early Canada, and Harper’s Early are ripe and 
beautiful. All these varieties bear a striking re¬ 
semblance to each other. High’s Early parts more 
freely from the stone than the others, and Harper’s 
Early seems to excel in flavour. 
August 2nd. —We sold Alexander and Amsden to¬ 
day at the rate of $3 per bushel. The specimens 
were superb, many measuring 8 inches in circum¬ 
ference, and weighing ounces. 
August 4 th. —Early Beatrice is ripe, but after en¬ 
joying such magnificent fruit as we have for the last 
few days, this small peach fails to give satisfaction. 
Mr. Myers writes that he has marketed thousands 
of bushels of this peach, and he finds it valuable ; 
though small, it is produced very abundantly ; the 
tree is hardy, and the fruit is exempt from rot. 
August 7 th. —Early Louise, now in perfection, 
seems to be a profitable market variety. Mr. Myers 
says that in Delaware the tree is remarkably pro¬ 
ductive, and when in bloom it is capable of with¬ 
standing, without injury, a greater degree of frost 
than any other. 
August 10th. —That delicious peach, the Early 
Rivers, is now in fine condition for eating. In this 
vicinity it is, beyond question, the best variety we 
have. In one of my reports on peaches, I expressed 
the opinion that Early Rivers would not be of much 
value for market, owing to its thin skin and delicate 
flesh, but Mr. Myers, who for ten years has made a 
specialty of peach-growing for market, informs me 
that Early Rivers is the most valuable of any of the 
early peaches for market. It is a great satisfaction 
to be able to commend so choice a peach for both 
purposes. 
August 15 th. —Early Leopold is too small, and the 
quality too poor, to render it worthy of a place in a 
collection. 
August 18/7i.—Rivers’ Early York is the earliest 
freestone we have fruited. Fruit of medium size, 
good quality, and the tree yields well. Snow is a 
beautiful white peach, especially valuable for 
canning and preserving. It deserves more extensive 
culture. 
August 20th. —Large Early Mignonne is of 
medium size, fine quality, and a freestone. The 
tree, loaded with fruit, presents a remarkably fine 
appearance. 
August 22nd. —Hale’s Early is ripe. 
August 23rd.—Acton Scott, Early Rose, Early 
Savoy, and Belle Conqnete are good peaches, but 
not large enough to be grown profitably. Belle de 
Doue, Belle Beauce, Grosse Mignonne, and Belle de 
la Croix have the highest flavour, and can bo re¬ 
commended to all who are seeking after delicious 
fruits. 
August 2otli. —Two of the best peaches in our 
collection are now ripe. I refer to Haine’s Early 
and Large Early York—varieties which are un¬ 
doubtedly identical. I have no hesitation in placing 
them at the head of the list, either for garden or 
orchard. George the Fourth is another high- 
flavoured peach, resembling the two last-named 
very closely. Cooledge’s Favourite is one of the 
most valuable varieties. The fruit is not large, but 
handsome and of good quality, and the tree is so 
hardy that this peach will always be a favourite in 
the northern sections of this country, where many 
kinds fail owing to the rigorous and changeable 
climate. Mountain Rose, of recent introduction, 
promises to be desirable for market. It is not so 
richly flavoured as the above, but large and hand¬ 
some. 
August 31st.—Shanghai, a very large Chinese 
clingstone peach, is ripe, and is remarkable for its 
fine flavour and handsome appearance. The tree is 
exceedingly prolific, aud the fruit is so sliowy that 
it will take well in market. Most of the specimens 
measured 9| in. in circumference, and weighed 8oz. 
It is a variety which merits attention. 
September Peaches. 
September 1st. —Early Alfred, Crimson Galande, 
Dagmar, and Pucello de Malines are handsome, 
white-fleshed peaches of medium size; but ripening 
as they do about the same time as Crawford’s Early 
and Surpasse Melocoton, they cannot compete with 
them, and we shall drop them from the catalogue. 
Crimson Galande, with its deep purple cheek, is 
very handsome, and a tree full of fruit is an in¬ 
teresting object to look upon. Crawford’s Early, 
on account of its size and attractive appearance, 
maintains its reputation as one of the best peaches 
for market. Foster and Surpasse Melocoton are 
rivals which are steadily growing in favour, as both 
are superior to Crawford’s in flavour, and they 
average equally large, if not larger. We had speci¬ 
mens of Surpasse Melocoton weighing 5J oz., and 
measuring 8| inches in circumference; Foster 
weighed 5j oz , and measured 8| inches iu circum¬ 
ference ; Crawford’s Early weighed 5 oz., aud mea¬ 
sured 84 inches in circumference. Richmond, Dr- 
