Colonel McFarland. 1. Gard. Mon. 24:338. 1882.
A seedling of Late Crawford originating in 1874 near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Tree strong, vigorous, spreading; fruit large, yellow, with a red cheek; flesh juicy, rich, high in quality; freestone; ripens the middle of October.
Colonel Tom Ruffin. 1. Van Lindley Cat. 16. 1892.
An early, white-fleshed clingstone, ripening about July 20th, according to the catalog of the J. Van Lindley Company, Pomona, North Carolina.
Columbia. 1. Coxe Cult. Fr. Trees 226, fig. 10. 1817. 2. Prince Pom. Man. 2:19, 20. 1832. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 491. 1845. 4. Hooper W. Fr. Book 216, 217. 1857. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat. 78. 1862. 6. Am. Jour. Hort. 3:343. 1868. 7. Leroy Dict. Pom. 6:99 fig., 100. 1879.
Virginia. 8. Mo. Bd. Agr. Rpt. 1:411. 1865.
This singular peach was raised more than a century ago by William Coxe from a pit brought to New Jersey from Georgia. While it reproduces itself from seed with considerable exactness, most of the seedlings show variations in shape and color. Nurserymen have, therefore, grown many different types but all having the general characteristics of the original fruit. The American Pomological Society placed Columbia in its fruit-list in 1862 where it has since remained. Tree moderately hardy and productive; glands reniform; fruit large, round, broad and considerably depressed, with a distinct suture; skin rough, thick, dingy red, sprinkled with spots and streaks of darker red; flesh yellow, often with a red streak next the skin, rich, juicy, melting, with the texture of a very ripe pineapple; quality good; freestone; season the last of September.
Columbus June. 1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 610. 1857.
Fruit medium to large, flattened, with a shallow suture; skin pale yellowish-white, with a rich red cheek; flesh red at the pit, melting, juicy, pleasant-flavored; good; stone free; ripens in the South the middle of June.
Comet. 1. Mag. Hort. 29:52. 1863. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 216. 1866. 3. Tex. Sta. Bul. 39:811. 1896.
Comet was raised from a pit of Salwey by Thomas Rivers, Sawbridgeworth, England, fruiting for the first time in 1857, when the great comet of that year was in its zenith. Glands reniform; flowers small; fruit roundish; skin yellow, with a crimson cheek; flesh yellow, melting, juicy; stone free; matures early in October.