90 Lessons iii Fruit Growing. 



softens. The trees of choice varieties are sometimes pro- 

 tected against birds by inclosing them with cotton netting. 



The cherry is commonly marketed in the Climax basket 

 (Fig. 25), in half-bushel market baskets, or in berry boxe& 

 (212). Choice varieties are often shipped from the Pacific 

 states, closely packed in unventilated boxes, in layers sep- 

 arated by tissue paper. 



Insects and diseases. The plum curculio (99) and the 

 pear-tree slug (81) are the most serious insect enemies of 

 the cherry. The fruit-rot fungus (101) is often destructive. 

 A species of Exoascus (103) often affects the sand cherry. 



C — THE PEACH 



112. Tlie peach [Pninus persica) is one of the most de- 

 licious tree fruits of temperate climates. 



The trees are more tender and of shorter duration than 

 those of most other temperate fruits. Peach orchards often 

 decline after bearing 2 or 3 good crops, but under more fa- 

 vorable conditions they continue 20 to 25 years. Lack of 

 proper culture has undoubtedly ruined many American 

 peach orchards. 



The cultivated peaches are commonly referred to a single 

 species, but at least two botanical varieties are recognized, 

 viz., var. Icevis or necturiana, the nectarine, of which the fruit 

 is smooth and usually smaller than that of the common 

 peach and var. platijcarpa^ the fiat or Peen-to peach, of 

 which the fruit is much fiattened endwise. The nectarine 

 is not grown commercially in North America except to a 

 limited extent in the Pacific states. The Peen-to peach is- 

 grown to some exte;it in Florida and on the Gulf coast. 



113. Cultural range. The most extensive commercial 

 peach-growing regions of the United States are in New 



