ioo6 



Gardening for Amateurs 



sunshine. This is done by pushing a small 

 stick or label underneath the shoot, which 

 has the effect of partially lifting the fruit 

 from amongst the leaves. 



Gathering the fruit is an operation re- 

 quiring the utmost care and judgment. If 

 not gathered in time the fruit will fall, and 

 be damaged ; if gathered too soon it will 

 lack perfect flavour and finish. To ascertain 

 when it is ready, place the fingers gently 

 under the fruit close to the stem and press the 

 surface, and if it gives way just a little then 

 it may be gathered. Place in a basket lined 

 with wood wool with tissue paper over it. 

 When the fruit has to be sent some distance 

 by rail then it must be gathered before it is 

 quite so ripe. 



Trees at the foot of a wall are not greatly 

 benefited by rainfall, and generous waterings 

 with weak liquid manure should be given if 

 possible once a fortnight during summer. Do 

 not water whilst the fruit is ripening. 



Black Fly attacks the Peach so early and 

 often so persistently that very serious damage 

 is inflicted before the cause is discovered. 

 Watch for the first appearance of this 

 pest among the young shoots, and at once 

 apply tobacco dust, and its progress will be 

 stopped. Should mildew appear sprinkle 

 the leaves with flowers of sulphur. 



VARIETIES. Amsden June, one of the 

 earliest, ripe in July ; Hale's Early, flesh 

 pale yellow, delicious flavour, grows and 

 crops well, ripe end of July ; Waterloo, one 

 of the best of the early section, ripe in mid- 

 July ; Duke of York, very handsome and 

 bears well, of good flavour, ripe mid-July ; 

 Early Grosse Mignonne, an old variety and 

 one of the best flavoured, ripe August ; 

 Goshawk, a handsome, hardy variety, prolific 

 and of excellent flavour, ripe mid-July ; 

 Lady Palmerston, la.te, large, handsome 

 variety, prolific, flavour second rate, ripe 

 in August ; Late Devonian, splendid late 

 summer variety, ripe in August ; Peregrine, 

 comparatively new variety, excellent in 

 every respect, ripe in mid-July ; Princess of 

 Wales, very large handsome variety, ripe in 

 August ; Royal George, an old and good 

 variety, ripe in August ; Sea Eagle, one of 

 the best of the late ones, ripe in early Sep- 

 tember ; Violette Hative, one of the oldest 

 and still amongst the best, ripe in July. 



The fruit of the Nectarine differs in 

 appearance from that of the Peach in so 

 far that its surface is smooth, lacking that 

 delicate down with which the surface of 

 the Peach is covered. Its flavour is also 

 slightly richer and sweeter. The fruit is not 

 quite so juicy or refreshing as the Peach. 

 The growth of the tree is similar to the 

 Peach and the cultural directions apply to 

 both equally. 



VARIETIES. Cardinal, the earliest of all, 

 and good in every respect ; Elruge, an old 

 and excellent sort, dark red. flavour ex- 

 cellent, ripe late July ; Lord Xapier, a 

 good variety, large, handsome in appearance, 

 sweet, juicy and refreshing, ripe in early 

 July ; Pine Apple is not so large as many 

 of the Xectarines, but is one of the best 

 cropping sorts, it is of handsome colour, 

 with yellow flesh, and when ripe the richest 

 and sweetest of all. ripe in August ; Pit- 

 maston Orange, large and handsome, flavour 

 specially rich and sugary, free bearer, ripe in 

 August ; Spenser, a good all-round Nec- 

 tarine, early and a good bearer, ripe in 

 August. 



Pear. The Pear forms a bigger tree and 

 lives to a greater age than the Apple. Evi- 

 dence of this is to be seen in the huge trees 

 in the orchards of Worcester and Hereford- 

 shire and other counties. When grown under 

 favourable conditions it is said to live and 

 bear fruit for 400 vears. 



If it is desired to raise Pears from seeds or 

 pips sow the seeds as soon as ripe in shallow 

 boxes or pans of sandy soil, covering them 

 half an inch deep. Place in a cool frame 

 with panes of glass over the boxes and keep 

 the soil moderately moist. Supposing the 

 seeds are sown, say, in October, or between 

 then and Christmas, the young plants will 

 come up during spring, and as soon as the 

 leaves have fallen in winter let them be trans- 

 planted on a border out of doors at 18 

 inches apart. They may remain here for 

 two years, and are then ready for planting 

 in their permanent quarters. The treat- 

 ment afterwards as to pruning, etc., should 

 be the same as for young grafted trees of the 

 same age. They may take years to bear 

 fruit unless they are budded or grafted on 

 another stock. 



Budding and grafting are practically the 



