94 FRUIT GARDEN. " 



a downy skin; and the Nectarine, with a smooth skin. 

 These, following the authority of Linnaeus, we consider 

 as one species ; and as their culture is precisely the 

 same, we shall speak of them as distinct only when re- 

 ferring to their sub-varieties. Each of these varieties 

 is again divided by gardeners into freestones or pecTies, 

 and clmgstones or |;ar/es, according as the stone parts 

 freely from the pulp or adheres to it. \Ye shall here 

 treat chiefly of the freestones, as being most hardy and 

 fittest for the open wall in Britain. 



Mr. George Lindley, whose arrangement is the best 

 that has hitherto been published, enumerates 60 kinds 

 of peaches and 28 of nectarines. In the Horticultural 

 Society's Catalogue the names of 183 peaches, and of 

 (Sb nectarines, are recorded. AYe doubt not but that 

 in America, where the trees are commonly raised from 

 kernels, and grown as standards, endless varieties and 

 sub-varieties might be collected. To enumerate even 

 the limited number existing in Britain would far exceed 

 our limits ; we shall, therefore, notice only a few of 

 those which are most distinct and best adapted to the 

 English climate. 



Peaches. 



Red Nutmeg, or Avant rouge of the French. — This 

 is one of the earliest peaches, ripening in England about 

 the beginning of August. The fruit small ; color pale 

 yellow towards the wall, bright vermilion next the sun; 

 pulp white, but red at the core ; the juice rich and 

 musky. The tree is an abundant bearer. 



Acton Scot. — This was raised by Mr. Knight between 

 the noblesse and the nutmeg peach, in 1814. The fruit 

 is red next the sun, and white on the other side. 



