PEACH 



HABDY FRUIT GARDEN 



PEACH 1079 



The flowers of the Peach and Necta- 

 rine vary in colour from pure white to 

 rosy - piJak and bright crimson. Some 

 varieties have very small blossoms, while 

 those of others are comparatively large. 

 The petals of the latter show the effects 

 of spring frosts more clearly than those of 

 the smaller flowers ; hence many imagine 

 that the smaller-flowered varieties are the 

 hardier, but there is no evidence to sup- 

 port this theory. The fruits are classed 

 as ' clingstones ' or ' freestones ' according 

 as to whether the rich juicy flesh clings 

 tightly to the stone in the centre or parts 

 from it readily. 



Soil. — Although Peaches and Necta- 

 rmes grow well in ordinary good and well- 

 drained garden soil, far better results are 

 obtained when the trees are planted in a 

 rich turfy loam, quite free from strong 

 manure, and having a perfectly drained 

 subsoil. As a rule the soil in which Plums 

 flourish is also suitable for Peaches and 

 Nectarines. An excellent addition to 

 the soil for Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Apricots is a fair quantity of old mortar 

 rubbish. Bone-meal is also a splendid 

 food for these plants, and to secure a good 

 compost the soil may be made up as 

 follows : 3 parts of good loam to 1 part of 

 old mortar rubbish, with a good sprinkling 

 of bone-meal and half-inch bones over the 

 whole. This should be thoroughly mixed 

 and win give good results. 



Situation.— Being originally a native 

 of a warmer, sunnier, and less variable 

 climate than our own, Peaches and 

 Nectarines require to be grown in the 

 warmest and best and most sheltered 

 positions in the gardens of the British 

 Islands. Cold bleak situations are quite 

 unsuitable, and it is impossible to 

 produce good fruits or trees in such 

 localities. As a rule a south or south- 

 west wall is the best position for growing 

 Peaches and Nectarines, and it little 

 matters whether the plants are trained on 

 special walls, or up the sides of houses or 

 buildings, so long as the aspect and soil 

 are favourable. In the mildest parts of 

 the south and west excellent Peaches of 

 early and midseason varieties are produced 

 on west and east walls. 



Borders. — These are often prepared 

 in a sloping position facing south with the 

 object of obtaining as much heat from the 

 sun as possible. But in the colder parts 

 of the country it may be questioned 

 whether this is altogether a wise pro- 



ceeding. The extra warmth stimulates 

 the roots to earlier action with the 

 consequence of earlier blossoming. This 

 would be a great advantage were it not 

 for the spring frosts which often come just 

 as the plants are setting their fruits, and 

 spoil the majority of them. If the roots 

 had not been stimulated into early growth, 

 the buds would not have opened so early, 

 and would probably have escaped the 

 effects of the frosts. (See the article on 

 Fruit borders, p. 1038.) 



Protectors. — Where, however, the 

 walls are protected by a slightly over- 

 hanging coping, or some of the light 

 frame glass protectors fixed on brackets 

 at the top of the wall, which are now 

 coming into favour, or when care is taken 

 to protect the flowers by thin canvas, it 

 is rather an advantage to have early 

 blossoms, but the disadvantages — chiefly 

 in regard to water — of inclined borders 

 should not be overlooked. They are 

 referred to at p. 1038. 



Propagation. — Peaches and Necta- 

 rines are usually increased by budding on 

 stocks of the seedling 

 Peach or Nectarine, 

 the Almond (Prunus 

 Amygdalus, p. 357), 

 and various forms of 

 the Plum, such as the 

 Mussel, St. Julian, 

 Black Damask, and 

 "White Pear. Plum 

 stocks are used as a 

 rule. There is no 

 reason, however, why 

 some of the better 

 class cultivated Plums 

 should not be used as 

 stocks, and it is pos- 

 sible that selections of 

 early and late varieties 

 for this purpose would 

 in the course of time 

 have a beneficial effect 

 upon the Peach and 

 Nectarine. The dor- 

 mant buds used are 

 inserted either in July 

 and August in dull 

 showery weather, or 

 earlier in April and 

 May with a sprouting 

 bud. Grafting may 

 also be practised in spring just as the sap 

 begins to rise, with well-ripened short- 

 jointed scions, having a small portion of 



FIG. 157. — PEACH. 



