CULTURE OP THE PEACH AND NECTARINE UNDER GLASS. 477 



Himalayas, and it is cultivated in China, Japan, North America, and 

 in most parts of Europe. Our data for the culture of the peach must 

 chiefly be taken from the practice in countries where it is successfully 

 cultivated, and in no country is it more so in the open air than in the 

 neighbourhood of Paris, or under glass than in England. 



Natural and Experimental Data. If the mean temperature of Feb- 

 ruary amount to 40 and that of March to 44 or 45, the peach-tree 

 will be in full flower against a wall with a south aspect about the last 

 week in March ; and the general crop will be ripe in the last week of 

 August, or first week of September, provided the mean temperature of 

 April be 49, May 55, June 61, July 64, and that of August 63. 

 The period required for the maturation of the fruit from the time of 

 flowering is, on the open wall, five months ; but it may be reduced to 

 four by means of fire-heat and the protection of glass. It cannot, 

 however, be advantageously diminished any further. This fact being 

 borne in mind, it is easy for the gardener to know at what time 

 to commence forcing his peaches in order to obtain a crop in a given 

 month. 



From the natural climate and habit of the peach-tree, it is obvious 

 that when forced it must be flowered under a comparatively low degree 

 of temperature. It cannot therefore be well forced simultaneously Avith 

 the vine ; for the temperature of March, which in this climate serves 

 to bring the peach into flower, does not unfold the buds of the vine, 

 this being only effected a month or six weeks farther in the season by 

 a mean temperature of 55. The peach may be subjected at first to a 

 temperature of 45, but not exceeding 55 till the flowering is over, 

 after which it may be gradually raised to 60, and not exceeding 65, 

 till the substance of the stone is indurated ; and after this crisis from 

 65 to 70 may be allowed. This is to be understood as referring to 

 the application of fire-heat. Even in the total absence of the latter, 

 sun-heat will frequently raise the temperature much higher ; but in 

 such cases air is mostly freely admitted, and even apart from this, an 

 elevation of temperature by sun-heat is not so injurious as the same 

 amount of fire-heat. Air should, however, be always freely admitted 

 during the day when the weather is at all favourable. 



Light is so essential, that unless peaches be trained near the glass, 

 the fruit will neither acquire due colour nor flavour. Vicissitudes 

 of dryness and moisture must be avoided. The roots should be well 

 supplied with water before the fruit begins to, ripen off, because at a 

 later period none can be applied without deteriorating the flavour. 



The management of the peach-tree can only be correctly understood 

 by those who are aware of the disposition of its buds and its mode of 

 bearing. The leaves on the shoots of the current season are produced 

 either singly, in pairs, or in threes from the same node. In the course 

 of the summer, or early part of autumn, a bud is formed in the axil of 

 every individual leaf, and these are termed single, double, or triple 

 eyes, or buds, according as one or more are produced at each node. 

 In the following season, these buds develop themselves, either as 

 flower-buds or young shoots ; and, previously to pruning, it is neces- 



