August 10, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



125 



crop of Peaches is most abundant, the trees requiring no 

 "pulleys" to "bringdown" the branches. Trees of Eoyal 

 George, Noblesse, and other sorts produce ten to twelve dozens 

 of Peaches annually of first size and quality. The roots of 

 these trees have evidently penetrated to the soil outside the 

 house, and the soil inside receives some water which passes 

 through the soil of the trees in pots, but beyond this the roots 

 are not watered. There can be no doubt whatever that this 

 house produces many more Peaches and Nectarines than could 

 be produced were the house trellised and every part covered 

 with fruitful branches. The fruit on these planted-out trees 

 hangs almost in clusters, and the trees require only the 

 smallest possible amount of attention. Neither training nor 

 pinching is resorted to ; all that they require and receive is one 

 severe pruning annually, and that in winter. In consequenoe 

 of this close pruning the terminal shoots are strong and luxu- 

 riant, and cause a free flow of sap to the fruit which is pro- 

 duced by the twiglets. The term " twiglets " is used in contra- 

 distinction to spurs, for the small internal growths of the trees 

 are not pinohed but are left to mature to their full length of 

 6 to 9 inches. It is found that more air is permitted to cir- 

 culate in the interior of the trees by this syBtem than is the 

 case by the pinching ; labour is also saved, and profitable crops 

 of fruit are produced. It is the simplest of all modes of Peach- 

 growing — is, in fact, a counterpart of Apple-growing in well- 

 kept orchards. Besides Peaches and Nectarines, Apricots are 

 largely cultivated in pots, and heavy crops of superior fruit 

 have been gathered, the remnant of the harvest being now in 

 course of ripening. Mulberries are also grown, the fruit being 

 now ripe and greatly superior in size and quality to fruit 

 which is produced in the open air. A good-sized bush pro- 

 duces many dishes of fruit. Other houses the same size as 

 the one described are similarly occupied with a few modifi- 

 cations, such as having more trees planted out or the houses 

 being partially trellised, for trees are grown under ail forms of 

 treatment and systems of training. 



Another old house is noteworthy as showing how every 

 place is turned to account in this nursery. It had been a 

 vinery for thirty years, and is now a trellised Peach house. 

 The Vines were^removed and standard Peach trees were planted 

 in the outside borders, bringing their heads inside the house, 

 and without anymore border preparation excellent c;Ops of 

 Early Beatrice, Early Louise, and other sorts are now being 

 gathered. Thus a plain structure which cost a mere trifle in its 

 erection more than a quarter of a century ago cannot fail to be 

 highly remunerative for several years to come. Another old 

 house near it is still devoted to Vines, which bear heavily. For 

 a number of years they were pruned on the spur system and 

 eventually failed, when young rods were trained up, and the 

 house is again filled with Grapes. Under the Vines Figs are 

 grown on bushes, and good crops are produced. 



Here may well be noted a few of the best kinds of Peaches 

 and Nectarines. The earliest Peach is undoubtedly Early 

 Beatrice. The fruit is somewhat small, but is of excellent 

 quality. It was raised from the white Nectarine. Closely 

 following it is Early Louise, a larger and darker fruit, melting, 

 juicy, and excellent ; a most valuable Peach, raised from 

 Early Albert. The next in order of ripening is Hale's Early, 

 a fine American kind above medium size, handsome and ex- 

 cellent. Then comes Condor, a large, fine, and good Peach. 

 Eipening about the same time is Eivers' Early York, a medium- 

 sized delicious Peach, superior to its parent Early York in not 

 being liable to mildew. This is followed by Dr. Hogg, a full- 

 sized dark, handsome fruit of excellent quality, the tree being 

 a vigorous grower and productive. A fine Peach to follow is 

 Princess of Wales, very large, handsome, and superior; and 

 still later are the two fine kinds, the Nectarine Peach and 

 Alexandra Noblesse, two of the finest Peaches in cultivation, 

 but not always ripening in the open air in cold seasons and 

 districts. The kinds named will with orchard-house culture 

 provide a supply of fruit of the first quality over a period of at 

 least five months. In the nursery are many unnamed seed- 

 lings, one of which, a most productive kind, has the quality 

 of Grosse Mignonne, the size and shape of Bellegarde, and the 

 colour of Noblesse; a distinct and valuable Peach, worthy of a 

 good name. 



The best Nectarines arranged as nearly as possible in the 

 order of ripening are the following:— Advance— this is a new 

 early Nectarine, ripening a fortnight before Lord Napier, and 

 on that account is specially valuable. The fruit is, perhaps, 

 rather small, but possesses a rich Stanwick flavour. Next 

 comes Lord Napier, one of the most important Nectarines 



which has ever been offered to the public. It is early, hardy, 

 productive, large, and of excellent quality. It was raised from 

 the Early Albert Peach. This is followed by Eivers' Orange, 

 a large melting Nectarine of first quality, a week earlier than 

 its parent Pitmaston Orange. Stanwick Elruge comes next, a 

 large rich fruit, possessing the peculiar flavour of the Stan- 

 wick, and is earlier than its parent the Elruge. A fine Nec- 

 tarine following is Humboldt. This is very large, rich, and 

 productive ; it was raised from Pine Apple, and is almost or 

 quite equal in flavour to that fine kind which comes next on 

 the list. Pine Apple is a prince among Nectarines. Fruits of 

 it have this year ripened in the orchard house 9 inches in cir- 

 cumference. The colour is orange and crimson, and in quality 

 it is extremely rch. In ripening it is a week or so later than 

 Pitmaston Orange. The last to notice is the late kind, Vic- 

 toria. This requires a warm climate or the aid of glass to 

 ripen perfectly, it is then very large and excellent. The few 

 kinds named are selected as affording a long succession of fruit 

 of the best quality. If only one tree can be grown choose. 

 Lord Napier ; if two, add Pine Apple. These are two of the 

 best Nectarines at present in cultivation, and will be standard 

 kinds for a long time to come. 



We pass to the Cherry house. Than Cherries no fruit is 

 more worthy of the protection of glass, and none more cer- 

 tainly and profitably cultivated. Indeed it is seldom that 

 the Cherry can be perfectly ripened in the open air — birds, 

 wasps, &c, preventing the fruit from hanging sufficiently long 

 to bring out its full qualities. Many kinds of Cherries re- 

 quire to hang almost to the shrivelling point before they 

 can be perfected, and this oan only be the case when trees 

 are grown under glass. The size and colour of the fruit is 

 also as much superior as is its quality over fruit that is pro- 

 duced in the open air. Of this convincing proof is afforded 

 by the fruit at the great exhibitions, the prizes invari- 

 ably Joeing secured by gardeners who grow their fruit under 

 glasB. The Cherry house at Sawbridgeworth is a span-roofed 

 structure, light and well ventilated. The trees are grown 

 in pots, and they have been heavily laden with splendid fruit- 

 Some fruit still remains, and in its partially shrivelled state 

 is most delicious. Some of the best sorts for cultivation 

 in pots are Early Eivers, a seedling from Early Purple 

 Gean, early, hardy, and rich ; Empress Eugfinie, the earliest 

 and the best of the May Duke type ; Bedford Prolific, similar 

 to the Black Tartarian ; Bigarreau de Schmidt, very large 

 and rich; Governor Wood, a valuable light red American 

 kind ; Monstrueuse de Mezel, a monstrous red fruit of excellent 

 quality ; and Florence, a very large Cherry with a firm crack- 

 ling flesh, and which hangs a long time after it has ripened. 

 The above Cherries will provide a supply of superior fruit over 

 a long period of time, and are highly worthy of being grown 

 under glass. 



Vines are grown in enormous numbers, house after house 

 being devoted to them. There are probably five thousand in 

 pots, hundreds of them — early fruiting canes — being grown on 

 the hot-water pipes, so that there can be no rooting through 

 the pots. All the best kinds in cultivation are cultivated in 

 numbers proportionate to the demand for each. The most 

 popular by far are the Black Hamburgh and Musoat of Alex- 

 andria. That fine Grape Madresfield Court is also in great 

 request ; so also amongst the lates are Alicante, and espe- 

 cially Lady Downe's Seedling. There are moderate numbers 

 of Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat, Gros Colman, and other sorts. 

 Amongst white Grapes Foster's White Seedling and Buckland 

 Sweetwater are the most popular. The Frontignans are also 

 in great demand ; and for early Grapes of superior quality few 

 can surpass such sorts as the Early Smyrna, Primavis, and 

 Tokay Frontignans. For exhibition purposes they are unsuit- 

 able, but for table quality they are unsurpassable. Mr. 

 Pearson's and Mr. Thomson's Grapes are also grown freely — 

 Dr. Hogg, Golden Queen, and Mrs. Pearson of the former 

 raiser, and Golden Champion and Duke of Buccleuch of the 

 latter. Very many kinds are planted out and fruiting, and 

 amongst these the Duke of Buccleuch. The berries are very 

 large and sweet, and are remarkably thin-skinned. Byton 

 Musoat as grown here is evidently a superior Grape. In 

 quality it is similar to Muscat of Alexandria, but the berries 

 set better and the Vine is more hardy. Orange tress are largely 

 grown, and are Bold as fast as they arrive at a fruitful size. 

 The plants are consequently Email, but were bearing fruit of 

 excellent quality. 



In the outside quarters the trees of all kinds of fruit in pots 

 are remarkable for their numbers, health, and cleanliness. 



