CHAPTER X 

 VARIETIES OF NECTARINES 



The temptation is strong to include nectarines 

 under peaches as a group not more distinct 

 from any one of the several groups of peaches 

 than these are from one another. In all po- 

 mological literature, current and past, however, 

 the nectarine is discussed as a distinct fruit; 

 it seems best, therefore, not to depart from 

 a custom so well established. The nectarine 

 is not an orchard fruit of importance in any 

 part of North America excepting California, 

 and in that state is of minor importance. The 

 lack of culture of this fruit is due not to in- 

 feriority in the product, but to the fact that 

 in the East curculio takes so great toll from 

 the smooth-skinned nectarines that a crop can 

 hardly be matured; while in the West, nec- 

 tarines are not profitable because the fruits 

 are too delicate to meet the demands of com- 

 merce, bruising and decaying before the crop 

 can be put in the hands of consumers. For 

 these reasons, there has been small demand 

 for new varieties of nectarines ; scarcely a score 

 are under cultivation in the United States, of 

 which sixteen are described in this chapter, 

 the brief descriptions having been made, unless 

 otherwise stated, from trees growing at Geneva, 

 New York. 



ADVANCE. Of the few early nectarines 

 worth growing, Advance is much the earliest, 

 ripening nearly two weeks before any other 

 variety. The fruits are only medium in size, 

 but are rich and well flavored, and the flesh 

 separates freely from the stone. The variety 

 is of little use in greenhouses, where nectarines 

 are grown in the East, but is well liked by 

 fruit-fanciers in California as an extra early 

 variety. It is an old English sort, introduced 

 into America a half century ago. 



Tree large and vigorous, neither regular nor heavy in 

 bearing. Leaves without glands. Flowers large and 

 brilliant. Fruit extra early, of medium size, green on 

 the shaded parts, with cheek blushed and sun-freckled 

 with red and brown ; flesh greenish-white, free from 

 the stone, sweet and rich. 



BOSTON. Lewis. Perkin's Seedling. Al- 

 though Boston was being grown at least as 

 early as 1830 in the United States, it is still 

 a favorite in greenhouses and gardens in the 

 East and as a commercial crop in California. 

 The fruits are large and handsome, but, while 

 they have a pleasant distinctive flavor, are not 

 quite so acceptable for dessert as those of 

 several other varieties. A peculiarity of the 

 variety is that the stone is small and pointed. 

 Boston was raised from a peach-stone planted 

 by T. Lewis, Boston, Massachusetts, early in 



the last century, the first fruits being exhibited 

 about 1830. 



Tree small but vigorous, upright-spreading, hardy, 

 productive ; branches smooth, slender, dark red, with 

 numerous conspicuous lenticels. Leaves rather large,, 

 lanceolate, thin, dark green, with globose glands. Flow- 

 ers midseason, small, pink. Fruit late midseason, 1% 

 inches in diameter, round-oval, irregular, halves unequal ; 

 cavity rather deep, wide; suture shallow or but a line; 

 apex depressed, mucronate ; color yellow blushed with 

 crimson, sometimes mottled and sun-flecked ; skin nearly 

 free ; flesh yellow, moderately coarse, sweet, aromatic, 

 pleasant and distinctive ; stone small, ovate, free, 

 pointed, brown, corrugated ; quality good. 



CARDINAL. Fig. 145. This comparatively 

 new nectarine seems to have been tested only 

 in greenhouses in America. It is considered 

 one of the best both here and abroad for forc- 

 ing and for pot culture. The variety might 

 well be tried as an extra early nectarine for 



145. Cardinal. 



out-of-doors, for, although it is a clingstone, its 

 trim contour, delicately marked coloring, and 

 piquant refreshing flavor make it a most in- 

 viting dessert fruit. Cardinal is an English 

 nectarine first mentioned about 1890. 



Tree rather small, round-headed, compact, hardy, pro- 

 ductive. Leaves with reniform glands. Flowers large, 

 pale rose. Fruit extra early, medium to small in size, 

 oval ; suture shallow but distinct ; apex depressed with 

 a well-marked abrupt tip ; color greenish-yellow, marbled 

 with a distinctive salmon-red, with white spots covered 

 with net-like lines ; flesh greenish-white, juicy, melting, 

 piquant, refreshing ; quality good ; stone clinging rather 

 tenaciously, somewhat large, ovate. 



DOWNTON. For over a century one of 

 the first-rate nectarines, Downton is still a 

 staunch commercial variety wherever this fruit 

 is widely grown, vigor of tree and great pro- 

 ductiveness recommending it. It is a second 

 early sort, ripening at Geneva, New York, early 

 in September. The original plant was raised 

 by the famous pomologist, T. A. Knight, of 

 Downton Castle, Herefordshire, England, but 

 the variety now grown in America is probably 



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