138 THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 



The Nectarine, from its smooth skin, is eminent- 

 ly liable to destruction from the attacks of the cur- 

 culio. For a description of this insect, and effectual 

 modes of preventing its depredations, see the chap- 

 ter on the PLUM. 



The effect of warm weather in winter, in starting 

 peach buds, and their great danger afterwards from 

 severe frosts, have been noticed when treating of 

 the " SITUATION" for fruit gardens. Crops are 

 obviously safest in cold situations, where the buds 

 are not started until the warm weather of spring. 

 [n one case, a bank of snow covering the lower 

 limb of a peach tree, saved the fruit, while all on 

 the rest of the tree perished.* In another, a row 

 of peach trees close along the north side of a fence, 

 where snow-drifts lay, were more fruitful than the 

 other trees. Hence the practice of piling snow 

 round them has been recommended, and in some 

 cases practiced with success. " It cannot be con- 

 sidered infallible in any situation. It is only use- 

 ful where a slight reduction of temperature is suf- 

 ficient to prevent the starting of the buds. We 



* Dr. Kirtland in Elliott's Magazine, mentions the case of 

 a peach tree, a large branch of which was split down on the 

 ground, early in winter. The flower buds on the prostrate 

 branch were uninjured, while the whole crop of peach buds 

 elsewhere was destroyed. The branch was carefully raised, 

 and was loaded with fruit; the rest of the tree was entirely 

 barren. 



