THE PEACH AND NECTARINE UNDER GLASS. 



167 



pressure of the fingers leaves marks, -wliioh not only 

 spoil their appearance, but also destroy the delicious 

 flavour of any fruit that may be left over until the 

 following day. When a large dish of Peaches is 

 piled up for a dinner - table, some light, elastic 

 material like artificial moss should be used for a, 

 foundation ; upon this place a few fresh Vine-leaves, 

 and arrange the first layer with leaves between 

 them to prevent pressure. Then, with the points of 

 a few more leaves protruding, arrange the second 

 tier, and so on until the pile is formed, reserving a 

 perfect fruit for the finish. The number of fruit 

 in each layer must of course be regulated by the 

 stock in hand, and the number of guests. When 

 more than a dozen Peaches are required, duplicate 

 dishes should be made ; indeed the most tasty dishes 

 can be made with a smaller number of fruit, say five, 

 seven, or nine, placed on an elevated foundation 

 covered with leaves. Each Peach then stands out 

 singly, little if any the worse, if not used, for having 

 been admired and afterwards removed from the 

 dining-room. Many housekeepers make a point of 

 removing all their surplus from the dishes as soon as 

 they are taken down. This is a mistake, as it entails 

 unnecessary manipulation. It is better to leave 

 perishable fruit on the soft, cool leaves, in an airy 

 room until it is again wanted for use, and then to 

 dish up again with the necessary additions. 



When fine, well-coloured Peaches are dished for 

 exhibition, there should be no piling or turning 

 round, as defects wiU out. Neither should they 

 touch each other. If a number of dishes of one 

 or more varieties are about to be made, prepare all 

 the dishes by forming on each an elevated base of 

 bran. Cover well with green but not remarkaby 

 young Vine or other favourite leaves ; then, as the 

 Peaches are unpacked, place them at once on the 

 dishes, according to their size and kind. Never at- 

 tempt to strengthen a dish by using an over-ripe or 

 faulty fruit because it has been extra fine ; but let 

 each exhibit consist of evenly-sized fruit that are 

 sound, symmetrical, and ripe enough for the table. 



Insects. — The insects to which the Peach is sub- 

 ject are not numerous, the most troublesome being 

 red spider ; but the first that puts in an appearance 

 is the ordinary green fly, hence the importance of 

 keeping the house clear of soft- wooded plants, like 

 Cinerarias or Geraniums, from the time the trees are 

 dressed in winter until after the fruit is set ; and even 

 then it is a very good rule to fumigate every house 

 once or twice before the blossoms open. If this pre- 

 caution is neglected, and fly is lurking about ready 

 to establish a colony on the first wood-buds, there is 

 great danger of its spoiling or sadly crippling the 

 trees before the fruit is set, as they cannot be fumi- 



gated during the time they are in flower. At aU 

 other times tobacco -smoke is a sure and speedy 

 remedy, provided it is not too strong. A calm, duU 

 evening is the best time to fumigate, and two mUd 

 smokinga are preferable to one dense volume. The 

 tobacco-paper should not be allowed to burst into 

 flames, and th^ house should be well syringed before 

 the sun strikes the roof the following morning. 

 Where smoking is impracticable or objectionable, 

 a decoction of Quassia chips syringed over the 

 trees will keep the fly in check. 



Ked Spider. — This troublesome little pest some- 

 times attacks the trees during the time they are in 

 flower. It generally starts in some dry out-of-the- 

 way comer, near the hot-water pipes, and quickly 

 spreads if neglected. Dryness at the roots, imperfect 

 winter cleansing of the trees, or structure, or the in- 

 troduction of that great bane to Peach-houses, the pot 

 Strawberry, may one or all contribute to its first out- 

 break. Prevention being better than cure, the trees 

 may be well syringed with a weak solution of soap 

 and sulphur once or twice before the fiowers open, 

 and again in suspicious parts after the fruit is set. 

 If it appears during the time the fruit is swelling, its 

 presence is due to bad management, for which no 

 excuse can be found, as Peach-trees should never be 

 allowed to become dry at the root, and, unlike a holjse 

 of Grapes, there is nothing to be injured by regular 

 and copious syringing. It is, however, while thii 

 fruit is ripening that spider is most troublesome ; 

 strenuous efforts should therefore be made to have 

 the foliage clean at the time syringing is discontinued, 

 and the roots in a proper state as to moisture. 



Brown Scale. — Trees that are subject to brown 

 scale should be carefully washed twice over with 

 warm soap-water, a soft brush being used for the 

 young shoots, and a hard one for the older branches. 

 When dry, paint with a solution of Gishurst com- 

 pound, eight ounces to the gallon of water, thickened 

 to the consistency of cream by the addition of stiff 

 loam and cow-dung. Watch the trees when they 

 break into growth, and if it again appears, go over 

 the parts affected with a dry, half-worn painter's 

 brush. When once disturbed, scale cannot re-esta- 

 blish itself. Some syringe the trees after the leaves 

 fall, with water at a temperature of 120° ; but the 

 best preventive of scale is sound, healthy growth in 

 a good border, with plenty of air and good syringing. 



Black Thrips. — When these insects gain a posi- 

 tion in a Peach-house, their presence is invariably 

 due to the introduction of plants of some kind, hence 

 the importance of keeping out Azaleas aiid others 

 subject to thrip. If allowed to spread, it soon be- 



