172 MY GARDEN. 



the tree becomes unsightly and irregular. Out of doors the Early, 

 Kaisha, and Breda varieties are frequently grown. 



I have had several orchard-house trees of more than one kind, and 

 the fruit we obtain is of. most exquisite flavour. An orchard-house 

 apricot, properly ripened, is very different from a wall-grown apricot, as 

 it is ripened throughout, and its flavour is a combination of those of 

 a preserve and a fresh fruit. It is really one of the choicest fruits of 

 the earth. For culture in the orchard-house the tree should be planted 

 in stiff top spit loam and rammed as tight as possible. During growth 

 the tree requires abundance of air, and liquid manure ought to be given 

 at least twice a week. After the crop is ripe the tree 

 Dught to be moved out of the house, to fully perfect 

 :he wood for the next year. In a history of Moor Park, 

 It is stated that Admiral Anson brought the Moorpark 



Fig. 3i8.— Moor- 

 park Apricot, Apricot (fig. 318) from the East, and that it was cultivated 



-^ Qi3in. 



at that park under Lancelot Brown, who was afterwards head gardener 

 at Windsor and at Hampton Court. 



THE PEACH AND THE NECTARINE. 



" The sunny wall 

 Presents the downy peach." — Thomson. 



Strange as it may seem, the Peach and Nectarine are one fruit. If 

 a peach kernel is sown, perhaps a peach, perhaps a nectarine may be 

 produced. As a rule, most seedlings have some merit, and I have been 

 informed that in North America, where the cold in some winters destroys 

 the peach-trees, they plant kernels and obtain others in three years' 

 time, without grafting or without care as to their being special varieties. 



In this country we are more particular, and only approved varieties 

 are cultivated, of which there are considerable numbers. Mr. Rivers has 

 been diligent in raising new seedlings. It is a great object to get 

 peaches early, as that prolongs the peach-producing period. His earliest 

 peaches are the Early Louise (fig. 319), and Early Beatrice (fig. 320), 

 which ripens about the middle of July. I have only this year ordered 



