FRUIT-GARDENING. 131 



retained in the nursery for two, three, or four years, till in a 

 bearing state. Whether the plants be removed into the orchard 

 at a year old, or remain in the nursery, the first shoots from 

 the bud must be headed down in a judicious manner, in order 

 to promote the most desirable form. In annual pruning, thin 

 out superfluous branches and dry wood, and shorten the bear- 

 ing-shoots. Nectarines may be trained to a close fence or wall, 

 in private gardens ; in which case, such plants should be chosen 

 as are budded low. (See article on Apricot.) The Nectarine 

 may be raised from the seed, planted the same as Peach-pits. 



SELECT DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF NECTARINES. 



FREESTONE NECTARINES. 



AROMATIC. A middle-sized, rather globular fruit, skin pale 

 straw-color, with deep red or brown next the sun ; flesh pale 

 straw, but red at the stone ; juice of a rich vinous flavor ; ripe 

 early in August. 



BOSTON, Lewis's Seedling. A fine native variety, raised by 

 Mr. Lewis, of Boston ; fruit of medium size ; heart-shaped ; 

 color bright yellow, mottled with red; flesh yellow, firm, 

 pleasant, and peculiar in flavor ; ripe in September. 



ELRUGE, Claremont, Temple's, Vermash of some collections.^ 

 One of the very best and most highly flavored Nectarines ; 

 fruit medium size, of a green or pale yellow color, with violet 

 cheek ; pulp whitish, melting, very juicy, rich, and high-flavor- 

 ed ; ripens early in August. 



FAIRCHILD'S EARLY. Fruit very early, but small ; of globu- 

 lar shape, yellow in the shade, deep scarlet next the sun ; flesh 

 yellow, not juicy, but well flavored ; ripe in July and August. 



PERKINS'S SEEDLING. A very large beautiful Nectarine, 

 raised by S. G. Perkins, from the Boston, Lewises Seedling ; the 

 form is globular ; color bright yellow, with dark crimson on one 

 side; flesh tender, juicy, and high flavored ; ripe in September 



