PEACHES AND NECTARINES 



CHAPTER XVIII 



SELECTION OF VARIETIES FOR FORCING PURPOSES 



THERE are enough varieties at command, both of Peaches and Nectarines, 

 for forcing purposes, to satisfy even the most exacting. It is a truly 

 wonderful collection, including both European and American varieties, 

 with new and improved kinds appearing from time to time. This makes the 

 work doubly interesting and alluring. But we must keep in close touch with 

 the fruit, as experience only will teach us how to judge of the quality of the 

 many varieties at our disposal. This applies especially to the grower for private 

 use, for here it is not a question of a large crop at one time, but one of a continu- 

 ous supply over an extended period. Different varieties should therefore be 

 planted in a house, so that one kind will succeed another without interruption. 

 As I have already stated, it is possible, with the proper facilities at command, 

 and careful selection of varieties, to have a continuous supply, either of Peaches 

 or of Nectarines, from the first week in May to the first week in October. 



My experience of the kinds that I recommend extends over the last twenty 

 years, and I therefore feel sure of my ground. Every up-to-date fruit grower 

 should take note of the different varieties, their time of ripening, etc., and com- 

 pare his data at the end of the season. Aside from its interest, this plan is edu- 

 cational, and of great benefit for future reference. The memory may be trusted 

 to a certain extent, but the notebook is often more faithful. I recommend 

 the notebook habit especially to the younger generation of gardeners, for they 

 will find well-kept notes an invaluable friend in the years to come. What we 

 learn by our own experience makes the deepest and most lasting impression. 



The improvement that has been made in recent years seems marvelous to 

 anyone familiar with the list of forcing fruit thirty years ago. At that date 

 there was some excellent material, more especially of Peaches than of Nectarines. 

 Of the latter we had Hunt's Tawny, Balgowan, Imperatrice, Violette Crosse, 

 Red Roman and a few others. But these have been relegated to the back 

 shelf in favor of the more recent introductions. 



The late Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, England, made it his life study 

 to improve the different varieties of fruit. His success is known far and wide, 

 and he has left a monument to his name that will stand for generations to come 

 Apples, Pears, Plums, Peaches, and Nectarines, and his early Rivers Cherry 

 par excellence, have all been enriched to a wonderful degree by his skillful work 

 Thomas Rivers did more for the improvement of fruit intended for forcing pur 



