SHADING NECTARINES. 71 



EXPOSING THE FRUITS TO THE SUN. 



When the fruits have nearly attained the full 

 size they should be freely exposed to the beneficial 

 influence of light and solar heat, by turning down, 

 shortening back, or removing altogether any leaves 

 that happen to intervene between the fruit and the 

 sun's rays ; elevating, by means of short lengths of 

 faths or ordinary plant labels, those fruits which 

 increasing weight and want of branch support 

 cause to drop between and beneath the branches 

 and foliage. The pieces of lath or labels should be 

 placed (under the fruits to be so raised) with the 

 ends resting on the adjoining branches or wires, 

 care being exercised not to force the fruits from 

 their stems in doing so. By following this modus 

 operandi the ripening period of the fruit is not only 

 forwarded, but better colour and flavour are thereby 

 imparted to the individual fruits. 



SHADING NECTARINES FROM THE SUN. 



Nectarines, unlike peaches, are susceptible to 

 injury from strong sunshine when in their second 

 swelling. (The growth of the fruits is apparently 

 at a standstill while stoning is taking place, the 

 energies of the trees being then mainly directed to 

 the formation of a stone in each fruit, and at the 



