128 FRUIT-GARDENING. 



and the flesh generally more firm. Although of the same 

 genus as the Peach, which is so plentiful in this country, the 

 fruit of the Nectarine is quite a rarity, and seldom appears in 

 our markets. There are seventy-two varieties cultivated in the 

 Horticultural Gardens of London under name. 



It is generally allowed that their failure here is occasioned 

 by the attacks of insects. The most efficacious method that I 

 have heard of for securing anything like a crop of Nectarines, 

 is to fumigate the trees in the evening, when the air is calm 

 and serene, at the season when the fruit is ready to set. To- 

 bacco is the most effectual antidote for these insects ; but a 

 friend of mine collected a quantity of salt hay that had been 

 used for his Spinach the preceding winter ; with this he created 

 a smoke, first on one side of his plantation, and afterwards on 

 the other, by which means he obtained a good supply of fruit. 

 Our enterprising horticulturist, Mr. W. Shaw, has succeeded in 

 gathering fine fruit by training his trees against a close fence ; 

 and it has been discovered by others that the Nectarine, like 

 the Grape-vine, will yield best in sheltered situations. That 

 eminent horticulturist, Mr. David Thomas, observes that " A vast 

 quantity of fruit is annually destroyed by the Curculio, which 

 causes the Plum, Apricot, and Nectarine prematurely to drop 

 from the tree. To prevent this loss, let the tree, after the 

 blossoms fall, be frequently shaken by a cord connected with a 

 swinging-door, or with a working pump-handle ; or let the 

 bugs be jarred from the tree on sheets spread beneath the tree 

 and killed. Or keep geese enough in the fruit-garden to de- 

 vour all the damaged fruit as it falls. We know that this last 

 method is infallible." 



As some may object to shaking or jarring fruit trees, for fear 

 of disturbing the fruit, such are here reminded, that if the 

 blossoms set more fruit than can be supported, it will not come 

 to full perfection, and the trees may be injured in their future 

 bearing ; for these reasons, when fruit sets too thick, it should 

 be thinned in an early stage of its growth. 



The Nectarine, as also the Peach-tree, is subject to injury 



