422 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
NECKLACE-TREE. See Ormosia. 
NECKWEED. A popular name for Cannabis sativa. 
NECTANDRA (from nektar, nectar, and aner, 
andros, a male (stamen); in reference to the three nectari- 
ferous barren stamens). Syn. Porostema. ORD. Lawrinee. 
A genus comprising about seventy species of trees, or rarely 
shrubs, inhabiting tropical America from Brazil and Peru 
as far as Mexico, the West Indies, and sub-tropical South 
America, Flowers axillary or terminal, pedunculate. 
Leaves alternate, scattered or rarely sub-opposite, coria- 
ceous, penniveined; primary veins often, not always, more 
prominent than in Ocotea. The only species worthy of 
mention here is N. Rodiei, the Bibisi-tree or Green- 
heart of British Guiana. It is a lofty tree, from 60ft. 
to 70ft. high, and is frequently without branches for the 
first 50ft. The most valuable part of the tree is its 
timber, which is imported in large quantities for ship- 
building purposes. 
NECTAR. The sweetish secretion of various parts 
of blossoms, which forms the staple food of many insects, 
notably bees, butterflies, and moths. For the manner 
in which this secretion is produced, and its utility to 
the plant itself, see Nectary. Nectar is not, as com- 
monly supposed, identical with honey, although, as 
furnished by many plants, it is the material from which 
bees make the latter. Analysis has shown the sugar 
of Nectar to be, very generally, cane sugar, while that 
of honey is grape sugar, consisting of dextrose and 
levulose, in equal proportions. The conversion of the 
cane sugar is brought about by an admixture of salivary 
secretion at the time the Nectar is sucked up. This 
conversion has been well made out in the case of bees; 
and, since larger animals and man are known to convert 
cane sugar into grape sugar, as an initial process in 
digestion, it is probable that butterflies and moths effect 
the same changes as the bee. 4 
ARINE. The Nectarine is a form or variety 
ters only by the fruits having a smooth instead of a 
rough skin. For example, the same tree has, at times, 
produced fruit of both kinds on the same branch; and 
even a closer relationship has been recorded in a single 
fruit being half a Nectarine and half a Peach. Nectarines 
are, however, sufficiently distinct, in flavour and general 
appearance, to be constituted and considered as a sepa- 
rate fruit, both for dessert and for exhibition purposes. 
Propagation. Nectarines and Peaches are propagated 
from the stones or seeds; by budding; and sometimes 
by grafting. The first-named method is employed for 
raising new varieties, and also for growing stocks whereon 
other sorts may be worked. ey, 
Seeds may be sown under a wall, in a warm position, 
in autumn, or may be stratified throughout the winter, 
and sown in early spring. On a Pre er or for 
i ses, they may be inserted in s at the 
* forwarded in a little heat, and the 
seedlings then planted out where they are intended to 
remain. As stocks, they often grow large enough for 
‘budding the first year, and, if properly treated, they may 
be expected to bear fruit when three years old. When 
seeds of either the Nectarine or Peach are sown, it is 
uncertain whether the product will be a form of the one 
or the other; consequently, named varieties cannot be 
‘perpetuated by this method. 
Budding ie the best and most largely-adopted plan 
for propagating the fruits under notice. This is prac- 
tised with what is termed a “dormant” bud in July 
and August, or a “pushing” bud in April or May. Some 
shoots with buds must be retarded for use in spring, 
under a north wall. It is necessary that only wood-buds 
be selected and employed: the embryo blossom-buds are 
NECT. 
of the Peach, distinguished from it in general charac- 
by b . oak vi ly in the season, and buried in sand, 
Nectarine—continued. 
Grafting may be successfully practised in spring. The 
scions should be firm and short-j i ted, and be taken 
early in the season, with a portion of two-year-old wood 
attached; they must be retarded until the sap in the 
stock begins to move. On dwarf stocks, whip-grafting 
may be practised; and, after the mutilated parts are 
fitted, and covered with clay, the latter should have 
earth heaped over it, to preserve a uniform moisture. 
If it is desired to graft standard stocks that are much 
larger than the small dwarf ones, the method of crown- 
grafting may be adopted, the grafts being inserted at 
any height desired. 
Nectarines and Peaches may be budded or grafted on 
the seedling stocks of the Peach, the Almond, and the 
Plum. The Peach stock is insufficiently hardy, and is not 
much used, as, although the buds take freely, and do 
well for a time, the trees do not long succeed without 
being overtaken by a disease termed the “yellows.” 
This is, however, much more prevalent in America than 
in this country. The Sweet Almond belongs to the same 
genus as the Nectarine and Peach, and all the varieties 
of the two last-named fruits succeed well on it as a stock, 
usually in preference to the Plum, which is, however, 
much more extensively employed. The Almond stocks are 
raised like the Peach, and may be budded when one year 
old. Tall standard stems may soon be grown, by keeping 
the plants tied upright and allowing them to grow away 
at will. Plum stocks are those generally used, and they 
answer better in various localities, on account of their 
hardiness. The Mussel, St. Julian, Black Damask, and 
White Pear Plums, amongst others, are used as stocks 
for Peaches. Some of them are stronger-growing than 
others, and varieties of fruits budded on them have 
similar peculiarities. By many of the French growers, 
the Black Damask is preferred; and this, with the St. 
Julian, Mussel, and White Pear, may be considered the 
Situation and Soil. The climate of this country will not 
admit of the Nectarine and Peach being cultivated in the 
open ground; except in the most favoured localities, a 
wall with south aspect, or even glass protection, becomes 
a necessity. The trees may possibly live, and make 
some growth ; but, for fruit production, it is all-important 
that the wood annually made should also be thoroughly 
ripened in autumn. Some protection against the evil 
influences of frost and cold easterly winds on the early- 
expanding blossoms, is also necessary, in spring, and 
this is most readily applied over trees on walls. In 
the warmest parts of the country, where the situation 
is not too much exposed to wind, or, on the other hand, 
to cold fogs in spring, Peach or Nectarine-trees may 
be planted against walls with an east or a west aspect; 
but a situation fully exposed to the south is that which 
is necessary in the majority. of cases. In the general 
arrangement of kitchen gardens, the principal walls 
should be built so as to receive as much sunshine as 
possible, and the very best position has usually to be 
accorded the fruits under notice. The special prepara- 
tion of fruit borders throughout entails considerable 
labour at first; but the results generally repay the 
trouble, both by the better success attending the trees 
planted therein, and also the important crops con- 
tinually succeeding each other in the cultivated part 
farthest from the wall. Fruit borders, to be of use for 
other crops should not be less than 12ft. wide, as nothing 
should be planted, nor even the ground kept dug, within 
3ft. of the wall, supposing the trees are there. A soil 
enriched with manure is not desirable, as it tends 
to produce an undue, sappy growth, which lacks 
blossom buds, and, moreover, does not become ripened. 
An open, loamy soil is the most appropriate, not too 
light, on account of being easily dried up, nor, on the 
other hand, composed of stiff clay: the trees cannot 
