FRUIT. 183 



them properly. The cropping of peaches by calculating so 

 many to the square yard is not a good method to recommend 

 when the circumstances are so varied and strength of trees so 

 difficult to define. Young vigorous trees are the better to be 

 rather heavily cropped, while old trees of moderate growth 

 would be injured by a similar number per square yard. It 

 should be remembered that one good-sized peach is better for 

 any purpose than two small ones, but more especially for exhi- 

 bition. After the final thinning has been completed, the roots 

 should be watered if dry, and a good mulching of rich manure 

 given to assist in feeding and keeping the surface soil sweet 

 and moist. Syringing should be done in the morning, and 

 early enough in the afternoon to allow the foliage to get dry 

 before night ; and if aphides are troublesome, the ordinary solu- 

 tion of soap and paraiEn should be applied. When the fruit 

 begins to swell, the roots should be supplied with liquid manure 

 from drainings of the farmyard, and some of the best artificial 

 manures for fruit-trees. This should be carried on as it is 

 required till the approach of maturity, when syringing should 

 cease, and water be withheld as far as possible with safety to 

 the crop and trees. 



The cultivation of Peaches and Nectarines on the open wall 

 is exactly similar, although trees on walls are not generally 

 so well attended to as those in houses. The crops on open 

 walls are very precarious, and cannot be relied upon, even 

 under the most favourable circumstances of season and climate. 

 Early varieties are more easily cultivated with success than 

 late ones. They should be planted on a south wall, kept well 

 thinned out, and the young shoots trained close to the wall as 

 they grow. The thorough ripening of the wood and the protec- 

 tion of the blossom in spring are the chief factors to success 

 in the culture of the Peach and Nectarine in the open air. 



The fruit should be carefully handled in gathering it, be- 

 cause undue pressure on any part causes a blemish to appear 

 in a very short time. Shallow boxes to contain a single 

 layer should be used for packing them for exhibition, and 

 each fruit, wrapped first in tissue-paper and then in a small 

 square of cotton- wool, and placed side by side among soft paper 



