NECTARINE. 103 



When the fruit has set, the vines may be syringed every 

 afternoon, about four o'clock^ having previously shut up the 

 house, not to be opened again till the sun has fairly tempered 

 the atmosphere next day, which will generally be from nine to 

 ten o'clock, if the house fronts south, when air must be given by 

 the top sashes, not allowing the thermometer to go higher than 

 from 90 to 110 degrees. 



During the warm, "cloudy days of July and August, mil- 

 dew is sure to appear, and has frequently accomplished great 

 destruction before it is discovered. It is readily known by a 

 yellow, sickly transparency on the leaf, or a greasy, soft feel 

 when you lay hold of it. The best cure is to give copious 

 syringings of water, twice a day, giving plenty of air to the 

 house from ten to three o'clock, in sunshine. If it has far 

 gone, pour four gallons of boiling water over five pounds of flower 

 of sulphur, stir it well, and after allowing it to settle, mix a fourth 

 of this water with that which is used for syringing, which will 

 entirely kill all mildew. Never leave the doors open for any 

 length of time ; it causes cold draughts of air through the vines. 

 Cease syringing as soon as the fruit begins to color. Give 

 water to the roots every week, whilst they are in a growing 

 state, till the fruit has fully swelled. 



The hints we have thrown out on the culture of this truly 

 luscious fruit will, wo think, enable any one to grow it at least 

 to a small degree of perfection ; and with a mediocrity of cau- 

 tion and observation, good and regular crops may be obtained 

 for either pleasure or profit. 



NECTARINE. 



Amygdalis^ var. — Brugnon, Fr. — Nedarpfirsche^ Ger. 

 I HAVE never considered this fruit as any other production 

 than a garden variety of the Peach, from which it is only dis- 

 tinguished by the smoothness of the skin. Many highly 

 wrought descriptions of it have extolled it as being finer fla- 



