Evening journal., 1894-06-01
FACTS ABOUT PEACHES.
Interesting Data About Della
wares Choice Fruit
FROM THE DEPT OF AGRICULTURE


The Leading Representatives ofthe vari-
cites OF Peaches Having Both Large and
Small blossoms. white and Yellow
Flesh and ClIngstones and Freestones.
The following estimate Of the condi.
tion OF the peach and other fruit crops Of
the United States after the frosts Of
March % and 20 has been compiled under
the direction of S B. Heiges, pomologist
of the United States Department of Ag-
riculture
To determine as accurately as possible
the condition Of the peach aud other fruit
crops OF the United States after the
freeze of March 20 aud 26, 1894. circulars
Of inquiry were sent to 500 correspond
enis Of the Division Of Polomogy located
In the commercial fruit-growing dis
tricts Of the various states
The questions IN the circular related to
the condition of the trees and abundance
Of buds in the fall OF 1893; their condi-
tion prior to the period of low tempera-
ture In March; their state Of advance.
ment at that time; the extent Of injury
to the prospective crop as indicated by
percentage of buds found dead at the
time of making the report; and the
names Of varieties of the peach found
to be late bloomers In the various local.
ties.
Most of the $50 replies received were
based on observations made during the
first week in April, but from the regions
which have been visited by frost since
that time supplementary replies have
been received These are included in the
summary given below.
Advancement OF Vegetation.
On March 25 most of the live peach
buds were open as far north as Milford,
Del, Washington, H. O., Louisville, Ky.
and Cairo Ill though some varieties Of
the Persian race were reported as not
having bloOmed at that date in Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas. The blossoms Of early
blooming pears, plums aud cherries were
all open or well advanced in the same
region, and grapes showed a growth of
several inches.
Peaches and japanese plums were in
partial bloom as far north as Dover, Del,
aud Baltimore, Md
Damage to Blossoms
The damage done to blossoms by the
frosts of March % and 90 was mainly
confined TO the region south of the points
irst named, though frosts and cold
weather on the Atlantic slope in April.
when blossoms were further advanced,
carried the injury TO the peach and other
early blossoming fruits well northward
into New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Condition Of Crop May 1.
From advices received up to May it
is concluded that, except in Florida
where a full crop is expected, and lower
Mississippi and Texas. where the indica-
tions favor partial crop. there will be
but few peaches in the commercial
orchards of the United States lying east
Of the Rocky Noun, aims and south of
Pennsylvania. Within this region also
early blooming plums, pears, cherries,
ETC.. are badly damaged, IS are grapes,
though the vines Of the last named fruit
sre showing blossoms on new shoots
from two aud three-year-old wood, so
that a partial crop of late clusters may
be expected.
North of the southern boundary line in
Pennsylvania less damage was done, and
the outlook for peaches is good in the
larger portion of Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, northern Ohio, western Michigan
York lu western New York aud in
tbs Connecticut valley the percentage Of
live peach buds is small, but with favor
able weather a partial crop may be ex.
pected. Other fruits than the peach are
little damaged north of the latitude Of
Philadelphia and there is good prospect
for fair crops.
Late-bIoomlDg Varieties OF the Peach
In reply to the inquiry regarding tn,
varieties Of the peach which have been
observed to bloom later than others
seventy-eight varieties are named by one
or more correspondents.
Owing to the great diversity in the
varieties Of this fruit grown in the diff
ferent regions from which reports were
received, aud the lack Of reports on any
very widely distributed variety which
can be taken as standard for compari
son, it has not been possible 20 deter
mine what one or more varieties bloom
later than all the others ia different
ATTITUDES. 10 is evident however that
the early upening varieties such as
Alexander Oneluding Amsden) Rivers
and Hale have been found TO be the
latest bloomers by the largest number Of
observers. These varieties, all Of which
are white fsshed, and most OF which are
semiclingsiones having large blossoms,
seem to constitute the most widely dis
tri6uted late blooming group Of the Per
sian race. They are PLANTED in small
numbers, however, in most o: the market
peach regions, because of the inferior
quality Of their fruit and its susceptible
ity to rot.
The reports indicate that in lsteness Of
blooming the latest ripening varieties
stand next TO the very early ones. This
group, OF which Smock. lway, Fox
Seeding, Picquet Late, Heath Cling and
Bllyeu are leading representatives.. in
cludes varieties having both large and
small blossoms white aud yellow flesh,
and both clingstones aud freestones. The
larger number of the well-known and
widely distributed varieties in this group
are yellow heshed freesi ones having
small or medlum-sizsd blossoms
Get in Line.