3i8 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Stirling Castle, Dymond, or Boyal George ripe in May in fact, the expense is one- 

 fifth less. 



Except the very early varieties, peaches cannot be forced to pay before the begin- 

 ning of May or the middle of that month, when good fruits of Hale's Early, Stirling 

 Castle, Dymond, or Royal George bring from 6s. to 1 per dozen. At the end of May 

 or early in June the prices have receded 3s. to 12s. per dozen, because fruits of the 



Fig. 73. PEACH HOUSE AT BEXLEY HEATH. 



very early varieties are forthcoming from trees started at the New Year with moderate 

 assistance from fire heat. As the season advances prices rapidly decline, so that mid- 

 season forcing, to have the fruit ripe in July, is not so profitable as it was before the 

 introduction of the very early varieties, the fruit from which is easily had in unheated 

 houses in the south of England early in July, and from walls by the middle of that 

 month. The cost of production is cheapened about one-fourth by these very early 



