Smyrna times., 1880-08-04
The Extra Early Peaches.
BIZ r. ]. BLACK.

Thirty years ago, when the writer
began to collect fruit, the question came
up one day: Can we hope to obtain
peach as good as Serrate Early York, and
ripening three weeks earlier? The idea
was laid aside as chimerical! The old
Early Anne, the best of the socalled
nutmeg varieties, was said to be fully
two weeks earlier than the Early York
but whatever it may have done under
glass, it was perfectly worthless in the
open ground. The habit of the trees
was tolerably good, but they would pass
the allotted lifetime of the peach, usually,
without producing single fruit
The Early Tillotson proved to be few
day earlier than Early York, and though
acutleaved sort like that, and consequently
liable to mildew of the ends of the shoots,
it bore we'll and was scarcely if ever
troubled with rotting on the tree, which
was the great fault of Early York, and
for which it has been discarded for more
than twenty years. Hale's Early was an
important addition, being fully ten days
earlier than Tillotson, but unfortunately
subject to rotting in some localities-gen-
orally under the best treatment, rich soil,
cultivation, &c.
But the great advance in earliness was
when Amsden's June, from Missouri,
and Alexander, from Illinois, were in
troduced five or six years ago. They are
both great acquisitions. To-day Uuly
7th) we have the last of the Alexander
beautiful, luscious fine; while the first
pickingG with the Amsden were gathered
on the 3rd inst; and after being in the
house day or so, were taken away and
sold readily for 50 per bushel.
These two varieties seem almost identi.
cal in color, size and quality of fruit
growth of trees, leaves (globose glands)
and flowers Qarge). Amsden begins t.
ripen a day or two before Alexander
usually about June 26th or 28th; anC
sets rather more fruit-a great deal to-
much. Both require to be thinned, il
order to reach their best. The size of tn,
fruit is good-nearly or quite two inche
in diameter The covering creamy white
the quality that pomologists call "ver.
good" better than the Crawfords. Th
stone is small, quite rough, light CHINA
mon color. Both are hardy trees, bear
ing fruit when other peaches bear.
Singularly enough, q long list of thes
extra early varities followed in the wax
D of Amsden and Alexander-Downing
Saunders, Wilder, and Musser, fror
Southern Pennsylvania; Honeywell, fror
Northern Ohio; Waterloo, from Wester
New York; Briggs's Early May, fror
California; Governor Garland, from Texa
besides other. some of which will doub
less prove to be valuable for general cult
vation.
About the same time the late Thoma
Rivers, of Sabridgeworth, England, Ion
one of the most eminent fruit grower
introduced dozen or more of his see(
ling peaches, produced by the most eros
fertilization under glass and anon
these are several very early ones. Ear
Beatrice ripens with Alexander, but
not quite equal to it Early Louise SOC
If after and is desirable, being trife large
50 and of very good quality. Early Rive
ripens a week later, and is excellent
every way, except its lack of color, whiC
for home use would be no objection.
is light creamy yellow, with faint blusl
Several years ago an early variety calle
Plowden Seeding, from the neighbo
hood of Washington City, made conside
. able stir, but it has dropped out Of motto
Ill There is probably no such peach.
Is. prominent fruit-grower of Delaware stat
q. a that his Plowden turns out to be Hale
:; Early. Ours is Fay's Early Anne,
u. Seeding of thirty years ago from the o.
Early Anne-a fine fruit, but too small.
Al There is one trait which the Alexand
- and most of the other extra early varieti
have in common: they are what may
called imperfect freestones, some par
cles of the flesh always adhering to Il
d, stone. This is not very objectionabl
though something of a fault. But v
cannot expect absolute perfection.
. 1t is useless to plant peach-trees {
as. the rich low grounds. Success can ge
/. orally be attained in high locations. Al
aSS iSS as DIR. Warder once remarked, besid
IA the hills on which to plant the trees, '
need the deep hollows into which the co
Of air may descend on frosty nights, aud t
. fruit.
1t is surprising more do not plant Il
delicious fruit, even among those w
T have plenty of suitable land. "T
trees die soon!" What of it? Plant MOI
BREMEN, o., July, 1880.