488 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



logists and mycophagists were gathered together on the occasion. The 

 number of persons attracted to witness the exhibition was something 

 extraordinary ; all the afternoon the council chamber was thronged, 

 and up till a late period of the afternoon the stream set in towards 

 the tables on which the Fungi lay. Subsequently, a gathering of fun- 

 gologists took place at Hereford — a large number of gentlemen met to- 

 gether, and the meeting appeared to have been successful in the highest 

 degree. In the name of science, and in the interest of gastronomy, we 

 thank these gentlemen for their work \ the practical utility of it time 

 alone will demonstrate. 



THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 



THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 



{Continued from page 457.) 



The reader will no doubt have observed that in all cases early autumn 

 has been the season recommended for planting the various fruit-trees 

 I have brought under his notice. In the case of the Peach and 

 Nectarine it is perhaps of even greater moment than with any other 

 fruits already named. The earlier in autumn the operation of planting 

 is done — say after the middle of August — the greater will be the chances 

 of success ; if left till spring, the later in spring it is performed, the 

 greater will be the chances of failure and permanent injury to the 

 young tree. This is easily accounted for. The Peach starts early 

 into activity in spring, so that if transplanted after the sap is in full 

 flow, the check occasioned by the sudden change proves often very 

 injurious by deranging the whole system of the tree for a time. Its 

 means of providing nourishment are for a time destroyed until it has 

 become fixed in its new situation and begun to form young spongioles. 

 This being the case, all activity in the tree is for a time suspended ; 

 and if the weather should be dry, the wood, and even the buds, will 

 to a certain extent become shrivelled. It takes no great amount of 

 physiological reasoning to prove the injurious effects of planting under 

 such circumstances. By planting in autumn all this is avoided, and 

 the young tree gets time to settle into its new position and form 

 young roots, which are ready at the first call of spring to start and 

 carry on the work of the season. If planting in autumn cannot be 

 done, the next best plan is to lift the young trees in December or 

 January, when they are at rest, and put them in by the heels in some 

 sheltered corner until their permanent quarters are ready for them. 

 Here they should not remain longer than the end of February ere 



