In September number of Gardeners' Monthly of 1882, I gave the result of my experience with new early peaches. From the crop this season I see no reason to change my views of the same, and therefore feel justified in repeating my former assertion, viz. : that there is not actually three days difference in the time of ripening of all the native new varieties claimed to be two to three weeks earlier than Hale's.

My method of testing cannot be questioned, i. e., fruiting them on trees of other varieties ripening at the same period, which I consider the only true method of testing comparative earliness. In my experience there has not been a season that the time of ripening was not reversed, so I have given up to say which is the earliest, until I can be more positive on this question.

I have not tested all the new varieties earlier than Hale's, but have fruited between twenty and thirty of them, and have others of the same class forthcoming, and when I find any that I am sure can be recommended as uniformly earliest, the public shall know it. In size, appearance, and quality they prove also to be about as near alike as in time of ripening, and I would venture to select specimens of all those varieties that I have fruited, and that the most expert judges could not name them except by chance. It is still to be hoped that the limit of earliness has not yet been reached, and that by planting seeds from specimens of the earliest ripening, varieties earlier than any we now have may be obtained.

Until this season I had flattered myself that these new kinds would not become so subject to rot as Hale's, but the unusual wet weather near the ripening period caused them to rot badly.

Early Surprise which was disseminated as extra early proves to ripen with Hale's, but, unless it will rot much, will just fill the place of the latter. It is equal, if not superior, to Hale's in every respect, and in my opinion will prove a valuable acquisition where the latter does not succeed. I am still waiting for a freestone to make its appearance as fine and as early as the earliest.

Wheatly was represented as filling the bill, but am told that it is like all early ones, half cling. I have as yet seen no perfect freestone as early as Hale's.