778 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



son s growth. The result is, we have strong stocky trees now that do not break down with 

 their load of fruit, while the winds do net have such disastrous effect in blowing off the 

 fruit.&quot; 



Peaches should be gathered with great care to prevent bruising, as they decay very 

 rapidly from such causes. 



Yield, Marketing, etc. Peach trees produce from a half bushel to six bushels or 

 more of fruit each, according to the size of the tree, and the care given. They are generally 

 shipped in bushel crates, or peach baskets holding about half a bushel each, the price ranging 

 according to the season, the supply of fruit, and the quality. Some of the finest peaches are 

 grown on elevated land within a mile or two of large bodies of water. The sale of peaches 

 will range according to the season, etc., from $100 to $600 per acre. &quot;When desired, they 

 can be kept from two to four weeks longer than otherwise, by putting the crates on ice in the 

 ice-house and covering with blankets, or other material. In packing for market, the fruit 

 should be put in very compact, in order to prevent shaking about and bruising. 



Diseases and Enemies of the Peadl. Great detriment to peach culture has 

 been found in the peach-borer or peach-worm, which bores into the bark of the tree below the 

 ground, frequently entirely girdling it; also the disease known as the yellows and the curl. 

 In the former the principal characteristic is that of the leaves turning yellow, or being nearly 

 destitute of color, the leaves curl and finally drop from the tree. For treatment, see DIS 

 EASES AND ENEMIES OF FRUIT. 



Nectarines. The nectarine is a species of peach, having a smooth skin. The tree 

 resembles that of the peach in general appearance and can scarcely be distinguished from it. 

 The fruit is considerably smaller than the peach, however, without down, and very wax-like 

 in appearance; in flavor it somewhat resembles the peach, although not quite as juicy. Nec 

 tarines are so closely allied to the peach, that both peaches and nectarines have been known to 

 grow upon the same branch, and nectarines when planted have been known to produce 

 peaches, and the reverse. The variety known as the Boston Nectarine is said to have orig 

 inated from a peach stone. This fruit does not seem to be quite as hardy and productive in 

 this country as the peach, although it differs in this respect in different localities. 



Yarieties. The principal varieties of the nectarine are the BOSTON, a fine seedling 

 raised from a peach stone by Mr. T. Lewis, of Boston: the ALBERT, one of the finest varieties, 

 but requiring a warm location and soil to ripen well; the DOWNTON, a large variety of very 

 good quality; the EARLY NEWINGTON, early, and one of the finest of the clingstone nectarines; 

 EARLY VIOLET, considered by many the lest of all varieties. It is of French origin, very 

 hardy and productive. It is large in size, has a delicious flavor, red flesh, and dark colored 

 stone. Skin pale, yellowish-green, and when exposed to the sun, is mottled with dark pur 

 plish dots. The ELRUGE, a choice English variety much resembling the Early Violet; HARD- 

 WICK S SEEDLING, a choice variety and very hardy and productive; HUNT S TAWNY, an early, 

 prolific variety, very hardy; PITMANSTON S ORANGE, considered one of the best of the yellow- 

 fleshed varieties; STANWICK, a white-fleshed, later variety of fine quality; ROMAN, a very old 

 kind, of excellent flavor, and the NEW WHITE, a fine, light-skinned fruit of more than aver 

 age quality. Among the best and hardiest nectarines for northern latitudes may be mentioned 

 the Violet Hative or Early Violet, Elruge, Hardwick s Seedling, Hunt s Tawny, Boston, 

 Roman, and New White. 



Cultivation, Pruning, etc. The cultivation, pruning, etc., of the nectarine is 

 precisely like that of the peach. It will grow wherever the peach thrives, yet it will not 

 produce large, fine fruit unless pruned annually according to directions given for peach 

 culture. The curculio has thus far been the greatest obstacle encountered in the cultivation 

 of nectarines in this country. 



