178 THE PEACH AND NECTAEINE. 



free stones and cling atones peaches, and nectarines. For example, 

 by fumisMng the Alexandra Noblesse with glands and smooth leaves, 

 we have a magnificent Noblesse peach, with a constitution mildew 

 proof. In the Early Louise, Early Beatrice, Early Leopold, Early 

 Silver, Early Bivers, we have early peaches of unusual excellence and 

 variety. Efforts in this direction have also stimulated others, hence 

 the Americans have sent over the Early Alexandra and Early Jun^, 

 both reputed to ripen in June in the open air. In the late peaches. 

 Princess of Wales, Eadolyffe, and Lord and Lady Palmerston, are 

 grand additions to late desserts. The nectarine peach again has a 

 smooth skin like a nectarine, almost thus exploding the popular belief 

 that the downy covering is in some mysterious way the cause of the 

 difference of flavour between the two. The Stanwick Early Tork again 

 has a distinct Stanwick nectarine flavour, and the Early Alfred peach 

 was produced from Hunt's Tawny nectarine, one of the most delicious 

 in cultivation. With such a parentage no one will ,be surprised to 

 read of this peach that it is most delicious, peculiarly rich and 

 agreeable. We purpose distinguishing Mr. Bivers' peaches with his 

 name in the following lists. With aU this peach wealth to choose from 

 it must be obviously a work of much difficulty to compress our Hst of 

 peaches into the best six, best twelve, best eighteen, and best twenty- 

 fbnr varieties respectively. It would be much easier to name and 

 describe flfty or a hundred varieties from printed lists, than this limited 

 number, from experience of their qualities. But as this would throw the 

 burden of selection on our readers, it will be far better to select a few 

 sterling good ^orts for them. In naming so many as even two dozen, it 

 is by no means to be inferred that those that have room for so many 

 peach trees should grow so many sorts. On the contrary, it very often 

 proves at once easier and more profitable to grow three or six trees 

 of one sort than so many varieties. 



The following is a descriptive list of the best six Peaches ; 

 , Noblesse. — This is still the very best peach in cultivation. The 

 flesh is white, sweet, juicy, melting, luscious, parting freely from the 

 stone. The fruit forms a large pale green or whitish globe, richly 

 marked with red streaks and blotches next the sun. The flowers are 

 large blush colour, the leaves deeply serrated and without glands. In 

 season in the end of August, or in late seasons the first fortnight in 

 September. 



Bivers' Alexandra Noblesse was raised from this variety, and is a 

 true Noblesse, with even larger fruit — ^richer it cannot be than a 

 perfectly ripened Noblesse. The tree is, however, said to be hardier, the 

 leaves smooth, with round glands, and not subject to mildew, which the 



