* 



400 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



flowering, P. A. inacrocarpa should be grown extensively, as it 

 is one of the best Almonds, its flowers being large, handsome, 

 and of a pretty shade of pink. P. A. aiiiara (Bitter Almond) 

 is also very beautiful. P. Davidiatia alba is the earliest of all 

 the Peaches to flower in the open air, its buds sometimes 



unfolding in the middle of 

 January. Being very hardy, of 

 Iree growth, and flowering so 

 early in the year, it is sur- 

 prisingly uncommon ; its smaU 

 pure white flowers are borne 

 along the previous year's wood 

 (often 3ft. in length) with great 

 freedom, and it is a capital 

 grower. P. {Amygdahis) 

 nana is fine for grouping 

 ^ in beds on the grass, as 



it is of very dwarf habit 

 (3ft. to 5lt. high^, and 

 carries a rich profusion 

 of rose-coloured flowers. 

 P, Persica (Peach Tree) 

 is a charming early- 

 flowering tree, 

 while its double- 

 flowered redijiore 

 roseo-pleno) and 

 white {flore albo- 

 pleno) forms are 

 equally pleasing ; 

 these, however, 

 are not quite so 

 free in growth as 

 the Almond, and 

 require protection 

 from north and 

 east winds. P. 

 Siino7ti belongs to 

 the early - flower- 

 ing group, as it 

 frequently unfolds 

 its lovely white 

 blossoms in Feb- 

 ruary. It is very free flowering, and quite hardy. P. Mume 

 {P. Myrobala7ia flore-roseis) flowers about the same time as the 

 Almonds, and its slender brown shoots carry a wealth of 

 rose-pink flowers. P. triloba {Amygdalopsis LiJidleyi), noted 

 elsewhere, is a glorious shrub, with double pink flowers. 



Fig. 258. — Prunus japonica flore-pleno. 



