246 The Nectarine Not in Favor. 
the fruit buyer, both in California and at the East, prefers the 
peach, whether it be fresh, or canned, or dried, and some of 
those who have tried even a few acres of nectarines have found 
many occasions to wish the ground had been given to peaches. 
How much of this preference is due to lack of knowledge of the 
nectarine, and how much to its somewhat different flavor, it 
would be difficult to accurately determine. 
It is altogether probable that the nectarine will advance in 
popular favor. This has been prophesied for some years, it is 
tiue, the expectation being based upon the wonderful excellence 
of the nectarine as grown in our interior valleys, and the passing 
beauty of the amber translucency of the dried nectarine, both 
when sun-dried in the interior, and when produced by machine 
evaporators. The excellence of the canned nectarine has also 
figured in the anticipation. It must, however, be acknowledged 
that anticipation has not yet been largely realized, for it is esti- 
mated that the amount of dried nectarines is but five per cent, 
and of canned nectarines considerably less than two per cent, of 
the respective forms of peaches. Nor does the demand call for 
change in this proportion, for there is a slight advantage in the 
market value of the peach even in its great preponderance of 
supply. Still there are many who arc very confident that it will 
in the future rank much higher in the California fruit product. 
It would please growers and fruit driers and canners to popular- 
ize the nectarine, for its smooth skin makes it as easy to handle 
as an apricot, and the beauty of the product, which certainly ex- 
ceeds that of the peach, and is rather more easily attained, is 
very gratifying to the producer. 
VARIETIES OF THE NECTARINE. 
Varieties of the nectarine, as of the peach, show different 
local adaptations, and are valued by growers accordingly. The 
varieties grown are, however, comparatively few. The tollowing 
have been found most satisfactory in California; the descriptions 
are somewhat condensed from Downing’s treatise, modified to 
suit local growth, and arranged approximately in the order of 
the ripening of the varieties :— 
Advance.—Large, round, green, marked with red and brown; flesh 
greenish white; rich and well flavored. . The earliest to ripen. 
Lord Napier (English).—Large, pale cream color with dark red cheek; 
flesh white, melting, tender and juicy, separating freely from stone; leaf 
glands reniform and flowers large. Especially commended as a heavy and 
regular bearer; pronounced best in flavor at Pomona Experiment Station. 
Downton (English).—Leaves with reniform glands; flowers small; fruit 
large, roundish oval; skin pale green, with deep violet red cheek; flesh 
pale stsct, slightly red at the stone, which is free, melting, rich, and very 
good. 
Early Newington (English).—Leaves serrated without glands, flowers 
large; fruit large, roundish ovate, a little enlarged on one side, and termi- 
