542 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



When we know of two methods having been adopted, the one succeed- 

 ing and the other failing, we are of those who cling to the one which 

 has produced the best results, whether it be called old-fashioned or 

 new. To be old-fashioned and successful cannot be a crime, but to be 

 new-fashioned and fail must be a crime, say what others may to the 

 contrary. 



After the disbudding season is over, the after-management of the 

 trees is very simple. The laying -in of the young shoots, and the 

 stopping or cutting out altogether of those which appear to be too 

 gross, forms the greater part of the work. As soon as the fruit begins 

 to make its last swelling, it ought to be exposed as much as possible 

 to light and air, in order to produce flavour and colour. Where the 

 leaves overshadow them, they ought to be either folded gently back, 

 or have a portion of them removed altogether. 



In gathering the Peach and Nectarine, they require to be gently 

 handled, or bruising and after-discoloration will be the result. To 

 obviate this, the fruit should not be touched until the colour and 

 appearance give a guarantee that they are ready to pull. When this 

 is the case, let the hand be passed behind the fruit, with two fingers 

 on either side of the foot-stalk, holding the hand in such a position 

 that the fruit, when gently pulled, will fall into the palm of the hand. 

 If pulled after this manner, hundreds of dozens might be gathered 

 without leaving the slightest mark, or in any way doing injury to 

 the fruit. Some people allow their fruit to fall into nets. This 

 I do not like, as I fancy that a Peach, when allowed to hang 

 until it falls, has lost a deal of that richness of flavour so peculiar 

 to it. 



It may not be out of place to make a few remarks regarding the 

 packing of Peaches before I pass to the concluding portion of my 

 subject. Some gardeners roll them in cotton-wadding, without any- 

 thing else. This is an abominable practice, as the whole bloom and 

 beauty of the fruit is destroyed, and so much of the cotton is left ad- 

 hering that it is positively unsightly to look upon them. Others roll 

 them in tissue-paper, and afterwards pack and roll them in cotton-wad- 

 ding. Some use boxes to hold one or two dozen, as the case may be ; 

 others have tins made with compartments for each fruit, into which 

 they are placed and packed with wadding. All these methods are 

 attended with considerable expense ; in fact, in some cases the expense 

 of packing is equivalent to the value of the fruit. My plan is a 

 simple and inexpensive one. The boxes hold one dozen, 4x3, fruit. 

 Each fruit is rolled in paper. I keep always a good supply of short 

 grass from the cutting-machine, taking care to have it always thorough- 

 ly dry. Into the bottom of each box an inch or so of this material is 



