* 
it would be impossible to find space. 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Nectarine—continued. 
tion of air, and a drier atmosphere, must be main- 
tained; exposure to the full sun and light must also 
in no way be hindered. To assist in, and insure, the 
fertilisation of flowers on early forced trees, many 
cultivators use a camel’s hair brush on each, or a 
rabbit's tail, lightly drawn over them all, answers 
equally well. This operation should only be performed 
when the pollen is quite dry. 
So soon as the fruits are set, a heavy syringing with 
tepid water should be given, to dislodge the fading 
blossoms; and daily syringings may also be practised 
from this time onwards, Gradually raise the minimum 
night temperature to 50deg., and the day to about 
65deg., or even higher, by sun heat, and maintain this 
steadily until the stoning period is over, or the raising 
of the mean temperature outside, by sun heat, suggests 
a similar rise under glass. Light and air should be 
freely admitted during warm weather, in spring, and 
also when the fruits are ripening; but airing must 
be cautiously managed during the prevalence of 
easterly or other cold winds. A good watering 
will be necessary at starting time, especially if the 
sashes are not movable so as to admit the early autumn 
rains. After flowering is past, it should be practised 
as circumstances require in different cases, at intervals 
of, say, three weeks or a month. A thorough soaking 
should be given when watering becomes necessary: the 
application of only a few canfuls will always prove 
misleading, in making the surface appear wet, while 
the roots underneath may possibly be in a much drier 
medium than that which is desirable. If the roots of 
-early-forced Peach and Nectarine-trees are entirely in 
outside borders—an arrangement not recommended—they 
will usually be wet enough from rain—at least, up till 
the time of the second swelling of the fruit. A thick 
covering of litter should be kept on the surface of such 
borders, and also on those partially outside, from starting 
time until about May, when it should be removed, part 
at a time. ; 
Thinning the Fruit. Nectarinê and Peach-trees in a 
healthy state, and under proper management seldom 
fail to set far more fruits than it is desirable should be 
allowed to remain on them, as not only would the crop be 
composed of inferior produce, both in size and quality, but 
the trees would soon become exhausted; the fruits would 
also drop off in lurge quantities during the stoning 
period. So soon as they are about the size of marbles, 
thinning of such as are underneath, also others off 
weak shoots, and where they are too thickly placed, 
should be commenced, and the operation many times 
repeated at intervals, rather than reduce too severely 
at once. The fruits finally left should be those as 
evenly distributed over the tree’s surface as circum- 
stances admit. A few frequently fail in stoning, even 
on healthy trees, and allowance must be made for such; 
but not to too great an extent, or the evil would be 
thereby encouraged. An average of one fruit to a 
square foot of the surface covered by the tree is some- 
times recommended; but established healthy trees will 
bear a much heavier crop than this, if they are fed at 
the roots when the fruits are swelling. It is not unusual 
for a good large tree to ripen from twenty to thirty 
dozens of excellent fruits, not only in one year, but in 
many. To do this, however, it must be well cared for 
in every respect, particularly in the thinning, training, 
and thorough ripening of the wood. 
1 Disbudding. This operation must, of necessity, be 
largely practised on Peach and Nectarine-trees, as they 
produce such an enormous quantity of shoots, for which 
As before re- 
marked, the fruits are chiefly borne on wood made the 
‘previous year, and a supply has annually to be laid in 
all over the tree for the special purpose of fruit-bearing, 
Nectarine—continued. 
and with a view to afterwards cutting it away, except 
when required for permanent branches for enlarging the 
tree. Fruits may also be allowed on the small side shoots 
or spurs, which should be stopped for their encouragement 
when enough leaves are formed beyond to cause a free 
Fig. 660. FRUITING BRANCH OF NECTARINE, showing Method 
of Stopping to assist the Development of the Fruit. 
circulation of sap (see Fig. 660). Disbudding has for its 
object the removal of all superfiuous shoots at an early 
stage, retaining the best-placed ones for forming the 
new wood, and pinching the remainder, to encourage 
the enlargement of the fruit. It should be performed 
by degrees, rather than remove a quantity of foliage 
at one time, and so cause a check to the trees by 
obstructing the flow of sap. If a good shoot can be 
obtained from the base of that of the previous year, 
it should have preference, and be encouraged; the 
latter (if there is a fruit on it) may have the remaining 
shoots pinched for the season until the fruit is ripe; 
it may then be cut away, and the new one take its place. 
Overcrowding must specially be prevented, by disbudding 
and pruning; otherwise, neither the wood nor fruits 
can get sufficient sun and light to ripen them. A 
few leaves should be drawn aside for allowing a full 
exposure of each fruit to the sun, when the second 
swelling begins; and, when ripening, a net, hung loosely 
to the trellis, underneath the tree, is a good plan for pre- 
venting any fruits from falling and becoming bruised. 
Diseases, Insects, Sc. In America, much more than 
in this country, a disease called the “yellows” attacks 
Peach and Nectarine-trees. It is most prevalent amongst 
trees worked on the Peach stock, and the almost ex- 
clusive use of the Plum and Almond is, consequently, 
the best preventive. The leaves turn yellow, gradually 
become smaller, and eventually the tree dies, Gumming 
is much to be dreaded, as, in bad cases, there is little 
chance of a cure. See Gummosis. It is greatly en- 
couraged by an over-rich soil. Blistered leaves are chiefly 
caused by draughts, cold winds, or too much exposure of 
the young and tender foliage. Mildew is sometimes de- 
Structive to the growing points; the immediate applica- 
tion of flowers of sulphur is the best remedy. Any sorts 
of Aphis may be destroyed by fumigation ; and Red Spider 
and Thrips, great enemies in Peach and Nectarine cultiva- 
