132 Commercial Gardening 



The flowers vary in colour from pure white to rose pink and bright 

 crimson. In some varieties the flowers are small, in others comparatively 

 large, and it is thought by some that the small-flowered varieties resist 

 frost better than the large-flowered ones. It would be interesting to have 

 scientific proof of this. 



So far as the fruits are concerned they are classed as " clingstones " 

 when the flesh is firm and adheres to the wrinkled stone, and as "free- 

 stones " when the flesh separates easily and cleanly from the stone. 



2. CULTIVATION 



Where there are suitable walls, the culture of this fruit is advisable. 

 If done well it will add eclat to the collection on the grower's stand 

 and attract the notice of the better class of retailer, who can be made 

 a customer for other things by a salesman with his wits about him. If 

 the goods are sent for sale on commission these remarks do not apply, 

 because it will probably be desirable to send such goods as peaches to 

 a different salesman from the one that sells the ordinary produce. If 

 peaches are attempted, enough attention must be paid to them to do 

 them properly or they had better not be touched at all. 



The soil for them must be good, with plenty of humus and lime 

 in it. The drainage must be good, and the means must be at hand for 

 watering freely during dry summer weather. Thought is necessary 

 in selecting sorts. Peaches are fruit that do not yet find their way to 

 the table of the humbler and most numerous class of our population. 

 Near large centres of population, therefore, it will not be wise to get 

 this fruit on the market when the out-of-town season is in full swing. 

 This presents a difficulty, because unless the grower is careful he will 

 get the bulk of this fruit in during August. 



"Hale's Early", "Early Alexander", and "Waterloo" may be got on to 

 the market at the end of July, but after these two it is better, except 

 where seaside towns are catered for, to depend on September and October 

 fruiting varieties. It must be remembered that in Peaches the public seem 

 much more concerned with appearance than flavour. Apparently the 

 Peaches on the dessert dishes are relied on more for the tone they give 

 to the eye than for the taste they bring to the palate. Good-flavoured 

 Peaches, like "Noblesse", that have not colour, are discarded for varieties 

 like "Prince of Wales", that carry a high colour. 



Sorts worth planting are: "Royal George" (mid September), " Bar- 

 rington" (mid September), "Sea Eagle" (end September), "Osprey" (early 

 October), and "Salwey" (late October). 



The grower need not buy two-year trained trees, for which he will 

 have to pay 3s. 6d. to 4s. each. Two-year cut back or one-year trained 

 will do, which can be bought at 12s. to 18s. per dozen. 



Prepare the place for the young trees by working in some turfy 



