596 THE PEACH- 



larger, and the space between filled with moss ; this serves to keep the 

 roots at a more even temperature than would be the case were they to 

 stand without this double potting. The trees are generally pi'epared by 

 training one or two years before being brought into fruit, forming a head 

 at about one foot to sixteen or eighteen inches of stem. This is done by 

 a systematic system of pinching or summer pruning, removing the end 

 of each shoot as fast as it grows to form three or four leaves. This 

 pinching gives to the head a compact round form, and supplies it with 

 numerous spurs or beaiing shoots. The trees or pots are kept in the 

 house all winter, and the thermometer in no instance allowed to go be- 

 low zero, as the buds are more easily aflfected than those of out-door cul- 

 ture. It is usual to commence heating by artificial means about the 

 middle of January, increasing it as the season advances and the natural 

 growing season and influence of the sun's rays are increased, giving 

 all the time attention to reducing the teiupei-ature at night and inci-eas- 

 ing it by day, as in the natural life out of doors. Great heat may be 

 maintained in a peach-house, but it must be always accompanied bj"^ 

 abundant watering, or the trees will be liable to drop their fruit before 

 mature. Some growers place their trees in warm, sheltered situations 

 out of doors a few days before fall ripening, believing it affects and in- 

 creases the flavor of the frviit. 



Growing peaches in pots without the aid of glass structures or fire- 

 heat has also been successfully practised. The trees are prepared, 

 pruned, and grown the same as for house culture, and during the grow- 

 ing season the pots are plunged in the open ground in a warni, sheltered 

 position in the gaixlen, due attention being given to wateiing. Just 

 before the approach of severe winter, say about the middle of Novem- 

 ber, they are removed into a cool, light cellar oi- pit frame, there to 

 remain during winter. In sjjring they are returned to the garden, and 

 should there be any sign of frost or cold, to injure the blooms, they are 

 protected by means of a cloth awning, arranged so tliat it can be drawn 

 over them at a moment's notice. 



VARIETIES. 



The varieties of peach are almost innumerable, new seedlings being 

 produced in this country with great facility, and, after being heralded for 

 a season, are suftered to pass out of existence and their places occupied 

 with still later productions. A few of the old sorts remain as good to- 

 day as when this work was first written, and occasionally a new variety 

 is found of superior merits. In the following pages descriptive we have 

 endeavored to record all of much value, omitting many which ai'e infe- 

 rior, and others perhaps that, although good, were not sufliciently so to 

 make them desirable, and therefore they are rare to be found in any col- 

 lection. 



A Bec. 

 Mignonne a Bec. Pourprce a Bec. 



This is a new variety, ripening early in August. The leaves have 

 globose glands. Flowei-s large. 



