68 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



first-rate varieties, the former the better known of the two ; but if I had 

 to choose between them I should prefer the latter for pot culture. Dryden, 

 Byron, Improved Downton, Goldoni, Rivers' Orange, Pine- Apple, Humboldt, 

 Newton, Spenser, Victoria, and Albert Victor, are all of proved excellence and of 

 good quality ; the two last-named are the best late varieties. 



Peaches. — Until recently, we have not had so reliable a peach for early 

 forcing in pots as Cardinal is among Nectarines ; but now I am convinced, 

 after two seasons' trial, that an acquisition in this respect has been intro- 

 duced, viz., the variety Duchess of Cornwall (formerly called Duchess of York). 

 It ripens a few days perhaps after Amsden June, but it is infinitely better 

 in that it is a reliable cropper, sets freely, and, what is still more in its favour, it is 

 not a " bud dropper " in any sense of the term. Waterloo, Alexander, and Amsden 

 June can still be grown if the trees are allowed to burst into growth naturally, 

 but as a succession to Duchess of Cornwall I prefer to depend upon HaWs Early, 

 which on the whole does not drop its buds so much. Early Grosse Mignonne 

 follows this, but Rivers' Early York, which is a better cropper, is only a few 

 days behind it. Then we have such well-known sorts as Dr. Hogg, Crimson 

 Galande, Dymond, Stirling Castle, Goshawk, and for the latest, Sea Eagle, The 

 Nectarine Peach, Golden Eagle, and Osprey. (I do not recommend either of 

 the well-known old peaches, Royal George, Noblesse, Early York ; they are 

 superseded by Dymond, Alexandra Noblesse, and Rivers' Early York respec- 

 tively. These latter are not at all liable to mildew.) 



Plums. — Not until I had actually tested the adaptability of the plum to pot 

 culture did I believe it possible to obtain such satisfactory and reliable results. 

 The earliest of the best dessert varieties can be forced as easily as the nectarine, 

 and may be had ripe for dessert from the middle of May onwards, a succession 

 being maintained without any difficulty. The best for forcing we find to be : 

 Early Transparent Gage, Reine Claude du Comte Hathem, Jefferson, and Kirke's, 

 all of which are excellent and of recognised good quality. Early Prolific also 

 forces well, being really the earliest of all to ripen ; as a pot plum it is also of 

 better quality than when planted out-of-doors. During the London season 

 these plums are an invaluable adjunct to the dessert. For fruiting in pots 

 without forcing the following are of proved excellence, viz. : those already 

 named for forcing and Golden Transparent (the most handsome plum in culti- 

 vation when grown in pots and ripened under glass, and of the finest 

 flavour). Transparent, Late Transparent, Golden Esperen, Oullin's Golden Gage, 

 Old Greengage, Reine Claude de Bavay, Gee's Golden Drop, Ickworth Impiratrice, 

 Bryanston Gage ; we also grow in pots Monarch and Grand Duke (both valuable 

 for their colour) ; also Decaisne, Late Rivers, and Late Golden for their late 

 ripening and keeping properties. A strong point in favour of plum culture in 

 pots is the perfect finish obtained in the fruits, owing to the shelter from rain 

 and the protection from birds and insect pests. 



Cherries. — In starting to grow cherries in pots for forcing we had no 

 reliable data to work upon, hence we had to find out by practice which sorts 

 were best adapted to the object in view. After several seasons we have proved 

 now that the earliest dessert cherry to ripen is Guigne d'Annonay, a black variety 



