182 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ September 10, 1868. 



Wales), against a Bouth wall, in April a temperature of 52°, 

 May 59°, June 65°, July 07°, and August 65°. Here, with these 

 temperatures, I have Peach trees on a south-east wall, also 

 against a south-west wall ; but the walls have only, calculating 

 hy time, about an hour's eastward or westward bearing, and 

 yet thi re i« no perceptible difference in the time of the fruit 

 ripening aa compared with trees against a wall with a due 

 south aspect. 



Now it will be seen on reference to the table of temperatures, 

 that Liverpool has a temperature equal to that of Chiswick. I 

 presume, therefore, the Peach is not to be cultivated in this 

 country otberv\ise than agamat a south wall, and not then if 

 the locality is more elevated than 250 feet in the south, 150 in 

 the east, west, and midland districts, and 50 in the north. 

 Exposure, however, may so reduce the temperature as to 

 render the locality unfavourable, whilst shelter from cold winds 

 hy natural agents may so contribute to the warmth of an ele- 

 vated locality aa to make Peach culture practicable where with- 

 out much protection it would not otherwise be. 



Much as temperature contributes to success in the cultivation 

 of the Peach, lowness, dampness, and fogginesa of situation 

 are just as unfavourable as a low temperature. A low situa- 

 tion will be equal to a difference of 2° or 3° of temperature, on 

 account of its being unfavourable to the ripening of the wood, 

 whilst a dry one assists its maturation. Temperature, how- 

 ever, is the firat and great aim of the Peach-grower ; if he has 

 not a favourable one all his efforts will be unavailing. It 

 would, however, greatly contribute to the perfection of the tree 

 and its produce to afford it a south wall in all localities having 

 a suitable temperature, and to keep from the soil any excess 

 of moisture, for the Peach is not hardy, but tender, and is often 

 rendered more tender than need be owing to the want of a 

 properly-made and well-drained border, for in such the heat 

 of the soil ia greater, the ripening of the fruit and wood is 

 effected earlier in the year, and the crop is larger. 



Not only is a south wall necessary for the successful cultiva- 

 tion of the Peach in the open air, but to afford further facilities 

 for the ripening of the wood and fruit a stock other than the 

 Peach must be employed, for the first evidence of a tree's 

 hardineaa ia afforded by its succeas or non-success on its 

 own roots. In the latter case the leaves by degrees become 

 smaller, the wood does not ripen, and then it becomes worth- 

 lesa ; but a tree not sufficiently hardy to succeed on its own 

 roots may be made to endure the climate by ita being budded 

 on a hardier kind of stock. The effect of budding or grafting 

 on a different species has a tendency to cause earlier maturity, 

 and in that respect the working of the Peach on the Plum is 

 desirable, as without that it is very questionable whether the 

 Peach could be cultivated against a wall without artificial heat. 

 The Peach does not succeed on its own roots against a wall in 

 this country. There ia every reason to conclude that the soil 

 is too cold for its roots, for on these it fails, whilst on those of 

 the Plum it succeeds, either from that being a hardier kind of 

 tree, or from the influence of the stock, or both. It must be 

 admitted that the Peach ia the most natural kind of stock ; but 

 in a climate unsuited to its growth we must make compensation 

 by ait for whatever our climate is deficient in, and it haa been 

 proved that budding or grafting on a stock thriving in that 

 clipiate rendera an otherwise uncultivable tree cultivable. 



The Plum ia most generally employed as a stock for the 

 Peach, and the kind of Plum most used is that known as the 

 Muscle. The White Pear Plum is sometimes employed ; but 

 though the Peach takes moat readily upon it, the growth 

 does not correspond with that of the Peach woiked upon it. 

 There are obstructions to the flow of the sap which indnce an 

 enfeebled state of the Peach, and it is not so long-lived aa 

 upon a freer-growing kind of stock. The Muscle Plum, being 

 of more free growth, is well adapted aa a stock ; end on it the 

 Peach generally succeeds, though all kinds do not take upon it. 

 The Almond, which is very near akin to the Peach, also 

 answera aa a atock, but in cold and damp soils the Peach does 

 not eucceed upon it, but in those which are warm and dry it 

 succeeds admirably ; and there is an advantage in employing 

 the Almond stock — viz., those kinds not taking well on the 

 Plum stock take readily upon the Almond. Exceyit in warm 

 soils the Almond is not desirable as a stock for the Peach ; and 

 though all the varieties of Peach take well on Peach stocks 

 and grow freely, yet they soon become diseased ; therefore 

 the Plum sleek is preferable to either Almond or Peach. 



Budding is the method most practised for the propagation 

 of the varieties of the Peach, and sometimes grafting. New 

 varieties, of course, are raised by sowing the stonej. I shall 



not, however, enter on these modes of propagation, as they are 

 rarely practiaed in private gardens. I will only add that bud- 

 ding appears to make the best trees. 



The varieties of Peach best suited for cultivation against 

 walls are of course those that are the most hardy. Those suc- 

 ceeding on a south wall with me, and excellent in every respect 

 vmless otherwise stated, are — 



Early York, large, melting, and excellent. Ripe from the beginning 

 to the eud of Angust. 



Grosse Mignonne, large, melting, and fine. End of August and 

 September. 



Noblesse, large and good. End of August and September. 



Royal George, large, but not so large aa some. End of August and 

 September. 



Bellegarile, large, melting, and excellent on account of its keeping 

 qualities and bearing carriage well. September. 



Chancellor, large, and better from a wall than under glass. Sep' 

 tember. 



Barrington, large and good. Middle of September. 



Late Admirable, large, melting, and juicy. End of September. 



"Walburton Admirable, large, valuable on account of ita lateness. 

 End of September and beginning of October. 



The above will not disappoint, unless it be the Eoyal George, 

 on account of its Uability to mildew. I do not care for the 

 Acton Scot now we have the Early York, the best early Peach 

 for a wall. 



A selection of six may consist of Early York, Grosse Mig- 

 nonne, Noblesse, Bellegarde, Barrington, and Late Admirable ; 

 of three. Early York, Grosse Mignonne, and Barrington ; of 

 one, Grosse Mignonne. 



The Malta is a fine melting sort, keeping and bearing carriage well. 

 End of August and beginning of September. 



Stirling Castle appears a desirable late Peach. Coming into use in 

 October, it will be valuable. 



Sulhampstead, closely resembling Noblesse, and said to be hordier. 



Of the last two I have not sufficient experience to write 

 decidedly of their merits ; but I have sufficient to enable me 

 to state that they and the varieties named before them are a 

 dozen of the best Peaches for walls. — G. Abdey. 



BEDDING PELARGONIUMS. 



Thire ia much troth in the remarks made by Mr. Lnckhurst 

 upon bedding Pelargoniums. I have lately had an opportunitj 

 of seeing many of those varieties which first appeared in such 

 glowing colours, and must confess being disappointed with 

 them, for after making allowances for the difference of opinion 

 between buyer and seller, I found that many of them did 

 not arrive at the standard of excellence ascribed ; this was 

 particularly remarkable in the Golden, Tricolor, and Bronze 

 section, many of the moat expensive kinds having dwindled 

 away into miserable-looking objects, while the colours of others 

 were so nearly approaching those of some previously sent out, 

 that it mattered little which one had. Of course large allow- 

 ances must be made for them in consequence of the parching 

 summer and our want of a knowledge of the peculiarities in 

 the treatment requisite to bring out the proper tints ofheir 

 foliage, and which I hope will be acquired by another season. 



The great demand for something new and distinct for bedding 

 purposes is, no doubt, one of the principal causes of there 

 being such an influx of new varieties into the market ; but 

 from their similarity to each other, I fancy the mind of even 

 the profesaional gardener, to say nothing of that of the en- 

 thusiastic amateur, must become greatly confused in making a 

 selection of varieties worthy of purchase. More especially must 

 tbia be the case with persons who live in remote districts, and 

 have no opportunity of judging of the merit of new varieties 

 beyond the descriptions of the sellera. It is in such lists as 

 those given by Mr. Luckhurst in our Journal that buyers will 

 find valuable additional assistance ; but in making selections 

 it is always well first to consider whether the plants are re- 

 quired for maasing in large or small beds, for back or front 

 lines in ribbon borders, or as single specimens in mixed borders 

 or vaaea. I will, therefore, arrange the varieties I have found 

 worth recommending according to the posiiions which, accord 

 ing to my own experience, have proved most suitable. 



Among Scarlet Zonals I shall take my stand upon Dr. 

 Lindley, Etbecca, Eoi d'ltalie, and Indian Yellow, as being dic- 

 tinct and remaikably effective, either in masses in large teds, 

 or in lines in ribbon borders in a second or third row. Herald 

 of Spring, Lord Derby, The Clipper, and Piovoataie very suit- 

 I able bs single plants for maxed borders or vaees. Glow and 



