94 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



Both the Peach and the Nectarine are admirably adapted for forcing pur- 

 poses; but while excellent Peaches can be also grown on the farm and in the 

 garden in many parts of this country, outdoor culture is not as congenial to 

 the Nectarine as the hothouse. I therefore rank the Nectarine ahead of the 

 Peach for forcing, for two reasons. In the first place, one can see car loads of 

 Peaches in the market, in their season, but not of Nectarines. The connoisseur, 

 moreover, will prefer at any time a hothouse Nectarine to a Peach. In the 

 second place, produce something under glass that is not so plentiful in 

 the market and it will be more highly appreciated, provided the quality 

 is excellent. I would therefore assign the prominent place in the fruithouse 

 to the Nectarine. 



Do not imagine that because they are not seen much in the market. Nec- 

 tarines have not kept pace with Peaches as regards improvement in varieties. 

 The Nectarine has been improved to a wonderful extent in size and flavor, and 

 length of seasons One must know these hothouse products well in order to 

 appreciate them at their full value. 



I have often been asked how early I can produce ripe Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines and how long the season will last. It is well for the grower to be able 

 to answer such questions definitely and intelligently. So I may say here, that 

 ripe Peaches and Nectarines can be had from the first week in May onward and, 

 with space at command, a continuous supply may be secured from that date to 

 the first week in October. There are persons who expect to get ripe Peaches 

 for Christmas, but as we are dealing with a deciduous tree, which must have 

 its period of rest, it is not advisable to attempt to bring in the crop before the 

 date stated. Three houses are necessary in order to produce a steady supply 

 for five months, and even then good judgment is required, with a thorough 

 knowledge of the different varieties This is a point that should be well consid- 

 ered when growing fruit for private purposes, as a steady supply is much 

 more appreciated than a large crop ripening only within a limited period. Fur- 

 ther on I shall give a list of varieties, with their seasons of ripening, which vary 

 considerably. 



HOUSE OR HOUSES BEST ADAPTED FOR GROWING 



I have seen Peaches grown in various kinds of houses — leanto, three-quarter 

 span, and the span or even span, the trees seemingly doing well under any one 

 of these constructions. There is one important point to be noted in planning a 

 house for trees of this kind. When they are once planted in the border, they 

 make rapid growth, therefore allow them room enough to spread. A Peach tree 

 planted in a cramped position cannot be expected to develop, or to give the 

 same results, as one that has plenty of space. A tree should be planted so that 

 it can develop freely on both sides. An evenly balanced tree will thrive better 

 than one which has not the same space for arranging all its branches; such 

 a tree also means even circulation of the sap. 



The house must also have full sunlight, for no matter how well it may be 

 constructed otherwise, it will fall short of its purpose if it is in the least shaded 

 by trees, and the grower cannot then produce the best results. The kind of 



