122 THE ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEff. 



CHAPTEB XXL 



VARIETIES OF NECTARINES. 



THE management of the nectarine is exactly like that 

 of the peach in culture and pruning. It is perhaps the 

 most delicious fruit of our gardens when grown and 

 eaten in perfection ; and a good succession may be kept 

 up, with only the aid of well-placed walls, and necessary 

 care throughout the last half of August, September, and 

 the early part of October. 



Hardwick is one of the hardiest and most prolific: 

 the fruit is pale-greenish, and is ripe the middle and end 

 of August. 



Downton is also a good early nectarine, ripening its 

 fruit late in August. The colour is pale green, with red 

 on the sunny side. 



The Murrey is a melting, sw^eet, well-flavoured nec- 

 tarine of medium size, rather longer than wide, narrow at 

 the apex, rather fuller on one side than on the other, 

 pale green, with deep red on the sunny side, arid with 

 pale greenish-white flesh, which separates from the 

 stone. The stone is oblong, blunt at the ends, and 

 almost smooth. It is ripe by the end of August. The 

 leaves are crenate, with reniform glands, and the bloorn 

 is small. 



Hunt's Tawny is an excellent medium-sized nectarine, 

 of a pale orange colour, shaded with deep red on the 

 sunny side, and marked with russety specks. The flesh 

 is orange-coloured, melting, delicious in flavour, and 

 separates from the stone, which is rather blunt, and 

 nearly smooth. The fruit is ovate, a little fuller on one 

 eide than on the other, flattened on one side, and with a 

 prominent apex. It is early, being often ripe by the 

 middle of August. It is said to do best budded on the 

 pear-plum stock. The leaves are doubly serrated, without 

 glands, and the bloom remarkably large, handsome, and 

 deep-coloured. 



