Peach 



1 168 ) 



Peach 



Propagation. By seeds for new varieties and 

 for stocks upon which to work other varieties by 

 budding. (See BUDDING.) These stocks are not, 

 however, equal to the Plum, and particularly to the 

 varieties Damas Noir and St. Julien, which give a 

 hardy, long-lived tree. Whip grafting (see GRAFT- 

 ING) may also be adopted, but is not generally so 

 satisfactory as budding. 



Soil. Any porous soil of a loamy character may 

 be expected to produce excellent Peaches and 

 Nectarines. Lime in the form of mortar rubbish 

 may be applied if the soil be deficient in this 

 mineral. The drainage must be perfect, and firm 

 planting is essential. 



On Trellises under Glass. Magnificent Peaches 

 and Nectarines are grown in houses either trained 

 fan-shape on a trellis under the sloping roof, 

 or planted back to back on trellises standing 

 across the house. The supporters of the latter 



conditions, as well to .promote growth as to keep 

 insect pests in check. The tips of the shoots must 

 be pinched out in the summer, and those not 

 required in subsequent years should be removed. 

 Disbudding will be necessary, and must be done in 

 two or three stages, and thinning of the fruits 

 must be done until the finishing crop will range 

 at one for every square foot of trellis ; but in this 

 each grower must use his own judgment. Over- 

 cropping means exhaustion, and is often the cause 

 of bud-casting. 



Temperatures. The heat should be gradually 

 increased with the progress of the trees. At the 

 flowering stages a night temperature of 40, with 

 an increase of 10 by day artificially, is suitable, 

 and sun heat may raise it a further 10 or 15, but 

 there must be free ventilation. This will increase 

 with the advance of the fruits until at the last 

 swelling it may be taken to 65, when ventilation 



PEACH GLADSTONE (see p. 169). 



system claim more profitable results, but the 

 fruits are usually slightly smaller and duller in 

 colour than those from the former system. Which- 

 ever method is adopted, the management will be 

 precisely the same. A good fan-trained tree will 

 have six to eight foundation branches whence 

 spring the bearing growths, which are usually 

 renewed annually, though both Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines will bear on spurs. Where a large selec- 

 tion of varieties is required and space is restricted, 

 the U-shaped tree will be found valuable. The 

 trees should be planted in thoroughly good but not 

 rich soil. Richness and looseness encourage gross, 

 sappy wood, which never produces fruits. The 

 growths that have carried fruits are cut out when 

 they have perfected their burden, and others are 

 trained-in to bear a crop the following year. 



Routine Work. Dryness at the roots is fatal to 

 success, and must be guarded against. Afford 

 mulchings of short manure to the trees, as these 

 encourage fibrous root action just beneath the 

 surface. Syringing must be done at intervals, 

 which will vary with the external atmospheric 



must be fairly free. When the fruits are ripening 

 there must be full ventilation at 75. In forcing 

 for fruit in May, start the trees early in December ; 

 for June, four weeks later ; for early in July, first 

 week in February ; and for mid-July, early in 

 March ; later crops come from trees that start 

 naturally. 



Trees in Pots. These are steadily gaining in 

 favour for culture in orchard houses (which see). 

 Excellent crops are produced, and the plants are 

 well within the control of the grower. Repotting 

 should be done every year, or every alternate year, 

 and the trees must be generously fed. As in the 

 case of trees on trellises, a pronounced resting 

 period is absolutely essential. 



Trees on Outdoor Walls. Peaches and Nec- 

 tarines are most admirable for walls facing due 

 south in cold climates, and south-east or south- 

 west in more favoured places. If the trees are 

 properly managed, similarly to those under glass, 

 they will produce superb fruits. Protection is 

 necessary during the blossoming period, and can be 

 readily afforded by blinds running up to temporary 



