FRUIT. 181 



drainage must be ample, to allow of copious supplies of liquid 

 manure, as well as of clear water, at the seasons when they 

 are required. The plants must never be allowed to become 

 dry, but careful watering is necessary in winter to avoid sour- 

 ing the soil. At starting in spring, a mild bottom-heat to the 

 plants in pots is beneficial. Their points of merit are: (1.) 

 Size; (2.) flavour and juiciness; and (3.) colour and thinness 

 of skin. 



THE PEACH. 



This delicious fruit has been cultivated in Oriental countries 

 from time immemorial, and was generally considered to be a 

 native of Persia; but De Candolle, on what appears to be 

 irrefragable evidence, traces its origin to China, where it is 

 mentioned by Confucius as early as the fifth century before 

 the Christian era. It is now cultivated with success in most 

 of the wai-mer parts of the temperate zones, and especially in 

 the United States of America, in some parts of which it forms 

 a staple industry, and grows with great luxuriance and fruit- 

 fulness under the rudest methods of cultivation. In Britain, 

 however, it must be grown under glass with proper heating 

 appliances, so as to command the greatest success and certainty 

 of a crop. In some favoured spots it m.ay be grown with 

 tolerable success on open walls, where it generally attains a 

 high flavour, although usually lacking some important point 

 deemed necessary in first-rate exhibition fruit 



The Peach and Nectarine are merely varieties of the same 

 plant, Amygdcdus persica, but they differ so markedly in their 

 appearance and flavour that separate classes are always as- 

 signed to them at horticultural exhibitions ; therefore the}' are 

 treated separately here, although their culture and manage- 

 ment are precisely similar. Among the best varieties for 

 exhibition are Hale's Early, Royal George, Stirling Castle, 

 Dymond, Noblesse, and Sea Eagle. A similar house to that 

 recommended for the vine, with heating power according to 

 what is wanted, grows peaches to perfection. If the trees are 

 well established in good soil, no preparation of a special natui-e 

 is necessary, as well-managed old trees in vigorous health will 



