426 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Nectarine continued. 



tion of air, and a drier atmosphere, must be main- 

 tained; exposure to the full sun and light must also 

 in no way be hindered. To assist in, and insure, the 

 fertilisation of flowers on early forced trees, many 

 cultivators use a camel's hair brush on each, or a 

 rabbit's tail, lightly drawn over them all, answers 

 equally well. This operation should only be performed 

 when the pollen is quite dry. 



So soon as the fruits are set, a heavy syringing with 

 tepid water should be given, to dislodge the fading 

 blossoms ; and daily syringings may also be practised 

 from this time onwards. Gradually raise the minimum 

 night temperature to 50deg., and the day to about 

 65deg., or even higher, by sun heat, and maintain this 

 steadily until the stoning period is over, or the raising 

 of the mean temperature outside, by sun heat, suggests 

 a similar rise under glass. Light and air should be 

 freely admitted during warm weather, in spring, and 

 also when the fruits are ripening ; but airing must 

 be cautiously managed during the prevalence of 

 easterly or other cold winds. A good watering 

 will be necessary at starting time, especially if the 

 sashes are not movable so as to admit the early autumn 

 rains. After flowering is past, it should be practised 

 as circumstances require in different cases, at intervals 

 of, say, three weeks or a month. A thorough soaking 

 should be given when watering becomes necessary: the 

 application of only a few canfuls will always prove 

 misleading, in making the surface appear wet, while 

 the roots underneath may possibly be in a much drier 

 medium than that which is desirable. If the roots of 

 early-forced Peach and Nectarine-trees are entirely in 

 outside borders an arrangement not recommended they 

 will usually be wet enough from rain at least, up till 

 the time of the second swelling of the fruit. A thick 

 covering of litter should be kept on the surface of such 

 borders, and also on those partially outside, from starting 

 time until about May, when it should be removed, part 

 at a time. 



Thinning the Fruit. Nectarine and Peach-trees in a 

 healthy state, and under proper management seldom 

 fail to set far more fruits than it is desirable should be 

 allowed to remain on them, as not only would the crop be 

 composed of inferior produce, both in size and quality, but 

 the trees would soon become exhausted ; the fruits would 

 also drop off in large quantities during the stoning 

 period. So soon as they are about the size of marbles, 

 thinning of such as are underneath, also others off 

 weak shoots, and where they are too thickly placed, 

 should be commenced, and the operation many times 

 repeated at intervals, rather than reduce too severely 

 at once. The fruits finally left should be those as 

 evenly distributed over the tree's surface as circum- 

 stances admit. A few frequently fail in stoning, even 

 on healthy trees, and allowance must be made for such ; 

 but not to too great an extent, or the evil would be 

 thereby encouraged. An average of one fruit to a 

 square foot of the surface covered by the tree is some- 

 times recommended ; but established healthy trees will 

 bear a much heavier crop than this, if they are fed at 

 the roots when the fruits are swelling. It is not unusual 

 for a good large tree to ripen from twenty to thirty 

 dozens of excellent fruits, not only in one year, but in 

 many. To do this, however, it must be well cared for 

 in every respect, particularly in the thinning, training, 

 and thorough ripening of the wood. 



Disbudding. This operation must, of necessity, be 

 largely practised on Peach and Nectarine-trees, as they 

 produce such an enormous quantity of shoots, for which 

 it would be impossible to find space. As before re- 

 marked, the fruits are chiefly borne on wood made the 

 previous year, and a supply has annually to be laid in 

 all over the tree for the special purpose of fruit-bearing, 



Nectarine continued. 



and with a view to afterwards cutting it away, except 

 when required for permanent branches for enlarging the 

 tree. Fruits may also be allowed on the small side shoots 

 or spurs, which should be stopped for their encouragement 

 when enough leaves are formed beyond to cause a free 



FIG. 660. FRUITING BRANCH OF NECTARINE, showing Method 

 of Stopping to assist the Development of the Fruit. 



circulation of sap (see Fig. 660). Disbudding has for its 

 object the removal of all superfluous shoots at an early 

 stage, retaining the best-placed ones for forming the 

 new wood, and pinching the remainder, to encourage 

 the enlargement of the fruit. It should be performed 

 by degrees, rather than remove a quantity of foliage 

 at one time, and so cause a check to the trees by 

 obstructing the flow of sap. If a good shoot can be 

 obtained from the base of that of the previous year, 

 it should have preference, and be encouraged ; the 

 latter (if there is a fruit on it) may have the remaining 

 shoots pinched for the season until the fruit is ripe ; 

 it may then be cut away, and the new one take its place. 

 Overcrowding must specially be prevented, by disbudding 

 and pruning ; otherwise, neither the wood nor fruits 

 can get sufficient sun and light to ripen them. A 

 few leaves should be drawn aside for allowing a full 

 exposure of each fruit to the sun, when the second 

 swelling begins; and, when ripening, a net, hung loosely 

 to the trellis, underneath the tree, is a good plan for pre- 

 venting any fruits from falling and becoming bruised. 



Diseases, Insects, SfC. In America, much more than 

 in this country, a disease called the "yellows" attacks 

 Peach and Nectarine-trees. It is most prevalent amongst 

 trees worked on the Peach stock, and the almost ex- 

 clusive use of the Plum and Almond is, consequently, 

 the best preventive. The leaves turn yellow, gradually 

 become smaller, and eventually the tree dies. Gumming 

 is much to be dreaded, as, in bad cases, there is little 

 chance of a cure. See Gummosis. It is greatly en- 

 couraged by an over-rich soil. Blistered leaves are chiefly 

 caused by draughts, cold winds, or too much exposure of 

 the young and tender foliage. Mildew is sometimes de- 

 structive to the growing points ; the immediate applica- 

 tion of flowers of sulphur is the best remedy. Any sorts 

 of Aphis may be destroyed by fumigation ; and Eed Spider 

 and Thrips, great enemies in Peach and Nectarine cultiva- 



