The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-06-18
Price: 81 per Annum, Single Copy 5 Cents

sections where the imported varieties
have not been introduced. There are
! some such sections in the State, and in
these annually the people have fruit OF
the best quality, and in quantities suf-
ficient to meet the demands of home
consumption. The Peen-To is the earli-
est variety known to our country, and is
an annual bearer. 1t bears heavier,
however, every other year. 1t is flat
peach; is shaped like an old-fashioned
biscuit, of creamy color, beautifully
tinted on the sunny side. It's flavor is
delicious, and may be very properly
styled dainty tits specially fond of a
warm climate, and when the winters
are warm, ripens its fruit as early as
the 10th of April-usually about the first
week III May. 1t is my opinion that it
Will rlpen its fruit anywhere on the pen
lnsula of the State and does not seem. to
have any special preference for one soil
over another. 1t is hardy peach, and
stands the heaviest cold of any variety
known to us. 1t is half clear-stone.
The Honey, or Sugar, is also an early
peach, ripening from the last of May to
middle OF June. This is the queen of
peaches as to sweetness. It's color is
deep red, assuming it as soon as the
bloom is cast, and holding it until it rip
ems. When fully ripe the addition of
sugar with cream is unnecessary, so
sweet is the peach. Its shape is pecu-
liar, being oblong with a small tit at the
end curling at the point. The fruit
comes on the tree very much like the
plum, and is small unless care is taken
to thrust off a surplus quantity. The
tree is an unusually prolific bearer, and
brings crop of fruit annually 1t is
free-stone and will compete with any
variety north OF us, either in color, size
or flavor, as to the early varieties.
visited Georgia last year when her earli-
est varieties were being shipped North.
bought peaches at every station be-
tween Macon and Atlanta, and found
none its equal in any respect.
The Peen-To, on account Of its being
so early, is the most popular peach, but
my 9RlnIon1 1o i thstthev 5tp evaFetgs vFaeet6gs 5f carry
peaches ripenfng from middle of June to
middle of July. These have styled the
Withlacoochee Cling and Clear. They
are medium size, fine flavor, creamy
color slightly tinted on sunny side. For
later varieties, the Florida Native can be
relied on, and of these we can have fruit
of the best size and quality, until the
middle of October.
From experiments made last year, L
find the best time to gather the Peen-To
for market is four or five days before it
ripens. Ii taken from the tree when the
fruit is firm but of creamy color, and
well wrapped in paper (say OF thickness
of common newspaper), it will bear ship |
ping to anv Northern or Western city, |
and will keep for fifteen days. The |
Honey, if treated the same way, will |
reach market in excellent condition.
Sixth Proposition-As to the best
method of propagating the peach: There
are several ways; by budding, grating,
and from the seed. The surest way, and
| think the best, is by budding. The
idea that the tree grown from the seed
is the longest to live, needs demonstra-
tion. The true cause of short life is
doubtless found in the care taken OF
tree. To grow from the seed is uncer-
tain. since it is exceedingly difficult to
Get the seed to sprout, and then you are
not sure of the variety. l have adopted
budding entirely, and prefer the dor
mant bud, since it makes the most rapid
growth.
Seventh Proposition-As to the market
value of the peach; Any variety OF the
peach finds a ready sale in our markets
and at good prices. The Peen-To, how
ever. brings the very highest prices. Its
extreme earliness and its scarity, besides
its unique appearance, finds for 1T
ready sale. Those shipped by me the
last wear were sent by express North,
taking eleven days to reach market;
They were shipped to houses that did
not handle fruit, and while the prices
were remunerative, still they were not
as good as those more fortunate. MIR. }.
!. Barr, of Micanopy, from single tree
/ shinned twenty one-third bushel crates,
and saws he could have shipped ten more
which he sold at from 81 to $l5 per crate,
averaging Sc per crate. Mr.. I'd. Brown
of nv section, shipped about 500, the
equivalent of six one-third bushels, and
from tree that had been budded the
previous June two years. Quite a num-
her of others, of whom | have heard,
made good ghipments and good rates,
byt space will not allow me to report
them. The production OF the Peen-lo
and other varieties, is rapidly develop
ing. and the fact that Northern truiters
are soliciting shipment OF the Peen-Io
and Honey peach, gives evidence OF g
growing demand for those fruits, ano
: hence / conclude that i'll a very lev
wears the demand for our peach crop vii
+ greatly exceed the supply.
JAS. p. DE PASS.