November 20, 1866. ] 



JOUKNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



389 



As to the fruit itself, tho periods of ripening wore not much 

 altered, nor was tho general advance in time delayed. Though 

 the luminous rays did not all penetrate the clouds, the heat and 

 actinic rays did so. Tho previous summer, and our long and 

 warm autumn especially, had stored tho earth heat in alum- 

 dance, and thus plenty of growth had been made during the 

 period when tho sun shone in tho early summer, and the wood 

 had coloured fairly before the disastrous drenching of the later 

 season. For weeks here wo hardly saw the sun, still, as was 

 said before, the ripening and colouring of the fruit went on, 

 much to our surprise. Flavour, of course, is not to be ex- 

 pected, and yet our early and lato Grapes were extremely fine ; 

 but other things, such as bedding plants, have been completely 

 washed out long ago. 



An intelligent lady from Lancashire has sent me a list of 

 the periods of ripening of some fruits in her orchard-houses ; 

 I only wish wo had more of these lists, and this shows how 

 ladies could manage orchard-houses if they wished. 



Early York lYach in Lanca I) i was ripe as early as the 

 20th of July — a most encouraging fact. Here the same Peach 

 has ripened, during five years, from the 1th to the 23rd of 

 July, and this year on the 10th. From this fact we gather 

 that Early York is an excellent variety, safe to ripen in July 

 anywhere in England, Ireland, and even Scotland ; and also 

 that in late climates the early sorts should be most largely 

 planted. They are sure to ripen at some time or other, but 

 later sorts are not. 



Early Victoria, a good and very early sort, ripened here on 

 the 17th of July. In Lancashire, however, it took up to 

 August 10th to mature. A Bee here averages the last week of 

 July. In Lancashire it ripened on the 12th of August, and 

 Royal George as well. On the 17th Grosse Mignoune ripened, 

 being about the date it ripens here in the open air. Barring- 

 ton as early as the 20th, and Walburton Admirable on the 

 25th. One is tempted to think the last is not truly named, 

 so early is this date. 



In this w <y the house wa3 cleared by August, leaving nothing 

 for September, which arrangement might have been improved 

 by adding Salway, Comet, and Late Admirable. Barrington 

 ripened thus in Lancashire as early as it does here in some 

 friends' houses. Princess of Wales, a remarkably fine Peach, 

 ripened in this lady's house as early as it does in my own. 



Now, the situation and general structure of this Lancashire 

 house must be good, also the management; and, let me repeat 

 it, no doubt orchard- ho uses under female management will do 

 very well indeed. 



Of newer sorts in our own houses I note the following : — 



Early Silver (one of Rivers's seedlings), ripe last year on 

 the 2nd .1 \ . : ad this year on the 25th of July, will 



eventually advance to the middle of the month, and bi i 

 remarkably delicate and beautiful, large, pale, juicy Peach, it is 

 extremely valuable. 



Souvenir de Java is a new sort, very early, of high colour 

 and medium size, but too new to report on. 



Exquisite was very fine again this year; splendid for the 

 table — so showy. Ripens here in the last week of August. 

 Will any one tell me when it ripens with him ? 



Rivers's Victoria Nectarine. Of this splendid and delicious 

 Nectarine there is but one opinion : It is immense, highly 

 coloured, handsome, racy, and melting — altogether the finest 

 Nectarine I ever saw. It was ripe hero in the third week of 

 August. Reports on the date of ripening, especially in orchard- 

 houses, would be really useful. The time has come when Buoh 

 things require to be more known. 



Ciemence [saure, a new Peach of very large size, freestone, 

 of a rich orange colour, very showy, juicy, with the usual Apricot 

 flavour, will be a good sort, I am sure. Ripe September 5th 

 for the first time here. 



Early Colombia, a new Georgian Peach. A remarkable 

 variety. Dark greenish skin, rough, high, yellow nipple, dark 

 maroon flesh near the stone only, having an Apricot fl 

 but somewhat bitter. The fruit looks like a large, hairy Reine 

 Claude de Bavay Plum. Wood of a dar-k purple. 



The Comet Peach was ripe here about the end of September. 

 It is alar licy, and very fine sort. 



Our October and November Peaches must be left out this 

 season ; nothing can be said in their favour. As to November 

 Peaches in general, these must be discarded as unprofitable. 

 Even October sorts require careful culture. As I said before, 

 orchard-houses are best adapted for bringing early sorts out, 

 and making the most of their qualities. 



Many sorts still much vaunted in trade catalogues will not ! 



bear the test of comparison. Peach-culture is ever changing, 

 and the change is in the direction of early sorts: therefore 

 those buyors who are not aware of this fact may find them- 

 selves greatly the losers by adhering to the oh olete sorts. 

 Hero such sorts as Murrey, Early NewitigtOti; and liardwicko 

 Seedling Nectarines, and Chancellor; DeSse Tardive; Teton 

 do Venus, Bourdine, Early Anne, Acton Scot, and Walburton 

 Admirable Peaches, all of which have a place in a catalogue 

 before me, are really second-rate. Sfome of Rivera's new seed- 

 lings (to ripen in July); Will throw the early ones into the shade ; 

 and as to the old and later sorts, they are either shy bearers 

 or very inferior in quality. It would not be right, in a con- 

 scientious review of tho season, to omit stating thisi 



For my own part I am somewhat prejudiced in favour of 

 more variety, believing that a dessert table looks all the better 

 for it. Clingstone Peaches are a branch of themselves. Only 

 the true connoisseur can relish these. The yellow Peaches 

 are strangely neglected at present; but they are a gorgeous and 

 valuable class. Of these, Admirable Jaune, Olemence Isaure, 

 Exquisite, Canary, Comet, and Early Crawford are good speci- 

 mens. Of Clingstones we exhibited six. weighing nearly 

 CJ lbs., and well coloured. These Peaches were as hard as an 

 Apple, but of delicate aroma, and full of juice : still, few here 

 liked them. If the public taste has yet to be educated even 

 in such matters, it must be allowed that it is making rapid 

 advances. Our visitors show a surprising amount of acquaint- 

 ance of late years, and it would not be prudent to overlook 

 this fact. — Th. C. Bkeiiait. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Wheeling out manures, composts, earth, mud, See., drain- 

 ing, trenching, making new walks, and repairing old ones, are 

 amongst the principal operations at the present season in this 

 department. Always make choice of suitable weather for per- 

 forming each with a view to cleanliness and good order. 

 Aepairagns, ground may now be piepared for new plantations, 

 also for Sea-kale and Rhubarb ; and if these are what may be 

 termed permanent crops, every care ought to be bestowed on 

 the thorough preparation of the soil for them. The staple 

 ought in all cases to be 2 1 feet deep, and thoroughly trenched, 

 manured, pulverised, and last, though not least, drained; and 

 where the soil is comparatively exhausted in some of its 

 essential qualities, and nearly all old garden soil is, there ought 

 to be an addition of new loam ; for success in Asparagus- 

 growing this is im iccoK, take care to pot or lay 

 in a sheltered situation a good store of Cape Cauliflower, 

 Broccoli, and Change's White. Gelevifj, it must he carefully 

 earthed up in suitable weather, and a supply of Endive must be 

 blanched. keep well and in good condi- 

 tion for use in the ground, and can be taken up as required ; 

 to keep the frost from preventing the operation, the stalks 

 may now be cut off within 5 or inches of the surface of the 

 soil, and laid between the rows ; ora quantity of leaves, mulch, 

 ■table refuse may he wheeled amongst them to cover 

 the ground. Take advantage of dry weather for securing 

 Carrots, Beet, &c, and if not already done, let the ground 

 they occupied he trenched ; and where the soil is of clay or 

 strong loam let it be ridged, that the frost an j act on 

 ;e a surface of it as possible. Pa ■ best plan 

 '. have found is to let them remain in the ground, and 

 . them out fresh as required for use. B son of 

 the year a good co manure or ■ wheeled on, 

 i ni | read over th'jm, so that if frost set in it may always be 

 easy to take them up. I Hear away dead leavesirom all growing 

 crops, and make good blanks in them as they < 



■ GARDEN. 



itinue to prepare ait-tree "pi . ining, 



trenching, and pulverising the soil, and alter planting, stake, 

 tie, and mulch trees Securely in good time. CI ar away all 

 dead leaves from the wall trees, and remove the green fruit 

 from the Figs. The established strorig-gro . trees 



that are tardy of producing fruit must be root-pruned. This 

 must be performed according to circumstances ; if the trees are 

 planted too deeply, or the soil has been raised c about 



them since planting, by all means fork tho roots out carefully, 

 and place theiu again with care on the rirfo , spreading 

 them out judiciously; and then mulch them. If tries to be 



ed upon are planted high li \ fork about them at a 



n nable distance, and prime back th c strongest 



