312 The Peach and Nectarine. 



bending down, have generally proved failures. Covering with earth 

 has been tried, but the moisture often rots the buds. 



2. As the limbs of the Peach soon become quite rigid, while the 

 roots are more flexible, a more successful mode has been adopted : 

 When the young trees are set out, the principal roots are extended 

 in opposite directions and the others are kept cut off. This enables 

 the trees, when the earth is partially dug away, to turn as on an 

 axle by a slight twisting of the roots, so that it may be easily laid 

 upon the ground. If trained flat or fan-shaped, it is easily covered. 



3. A third mode has been successfully adopted in some of the 

 Western States. The trees are planted in a row and the branches 

 trained horizontally in opposite directions. Posts are set between 

 the trees four or five feet high, and the tops connected by strong 

 horizontal poles. On the approach of winter, rafters are placed on 

 each side against these poles, so as to form a rather steep roof. The 

 outer limbs may be bent under the rafters, if necessary. The whole 

 is then covered with rough or cheap boards, and with two or three 

 inches of earth. At the approach of warm weather in spring, the 

 covering is partly removed to admit air and prevent the rotting of the 

 buds, and the whole is taken off as soon as there is no danger from 

 frost. The use of corn fodder laid on the rafters about two feet 

 thick would be easier, and would probably answer an excellent pur- 

 pose. 



The earliest and hardiest sorts should be selected for these expe- 

 riments, among which may be named Cooledge's Favorite, Hale's 

 Early, Serrate Early York, Cole's Early Red, and Early Barnard. 



VARIETIES. 



While the Pear and Apple are chiefly affected by the influence of 

 soil, the variations in the quality of the Peach result mostly from the 

 effects of climate. Fine American varieties are pronounced worth- 

 less in England. In this country, some, often delicious, are of little 

 value in unfavorable seasons. Some which succeed finely as far 

 south as Philadelphia, lose much by removal to Western New York, 

 from the slightly diminished warmth of the summers. 



A large number of seedlings of high quality have been produced 

 in this country, but as they vary but slightly and do not excel other 

 named and known sorts, it becomes desirable not to extend the 

 present list, unless by those decidedly superior to existing first-rate 

 varieties. The similarity in quality, and the comparative shortness 

 of the fruit season, render a small selection sufficient for ordinary 



