576 THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 



central and southern districts of England, in the open garden on espa- 

 liers and on walls. 



The Peach and Nectarine. 



The peach and nectarine (Persica vulgaris, Dec.; and P. laevis, Dec.) are 

 deciduous trees, under the middle size, natives of Persia, and cultivated 

 in gardens for their fruit from the time of the Romans. The nectarine 

 (peche lisse, Fr.),is distinguished from the peach by having a smooth skin, 

 while that of the peach is downy. The almond is supposed by many 

 to be the peach in a wild state, but for convenience in treating of their 

 culture, we have kept them apart. The peach has long been culti- 

 vated extensively in France, from whence our best varieties have been 

 obtained ; it is highly prized in India, and is common in the warmer parts 

 of the United States as an orchard fruit. 



Use. The peach and nectarine are dessert fruits, next in estimation 

 to the grape and the pine-apple ; they also make delicious preserves, and 

 the peach, when gathered a little before it is ripe, most excellent tarts. 

 In the Southern Slates of North America, and in some parts of France, 

 the pulp is fermented, and brandy obtained from it by distillation. A 

 few of the green leaves put into gin or whisky give these spirits the 

 flavour of noyau. As both the leaves and the skin of the fruit contain 

 prussic acid, the use of the former should not be carried to excess, and 

 the skin of the latter should always be removed before the pulp is eaten. 



Properties of a good Peach or Nectarine. Flesh firm ; skin thin, of 

 a deep or bright red colour next the sun,and of a yellowish green on the 

 shady side; pulp yellowish, full of high-flavoured juice; the fleshy part 

 thick, and the stone small. 



Varieties. These are naturally arranged into two divisions, peaches 

 and nectarines. There are now a great many varieties of both in culti- 

 vation ; great and splendid additions have very recently been made to our 

 collections by Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, many of whose seedlings 

 are of the highest merit. The following are among the very best proved 

 varieties up to this year : Chancellor, Early Rivers, Early York, 

 Raymacker's, Rivers, Early York, Alexandra, Noblesse, Dr. Hogg, Early 

 Silver, Lady Palmerston, Princess of Wales, Grosse Mignonne, Red 

 Magdalen, Royal George, Noblesse, Malta, Barrington, Bellegarcle, Late 

 Admirable, Salway. 



Select Nectarines. Elruge, Downton. Hardwicke Seedling, Rivers' 

 Orange, Rivers' Pine-apple, Albert, New White, Violette Hative, 

 and Pitmaston Orange. 



Peaches and Nectarines for a Wall, to come in, in succession from the 

 beginning of August to the end of October, arranged in the order of 

 their Ripening. Peaches : Early Rivers, Early York, Grosse Mignonne, 

 Royal George, Noblesse, Malta, Royal Charlotte, Bellegarde, Barring- 

 ton, Late Admirable, Princess of Wales, and Lord Palmerston. The 

 best nectarines for a wall are the Elruge, Violette Hative, Pine-apple, 

 and Victoria. A more extended selection of peaches and nectarines 

 for a wall has been already given. 



A Selection of Peaches for Forcing. Bellegarde, Noblesse, Grosse 



