VI.] 



LIST OF FRUITS. 



195 



if possible, necessary here than in the case of the apricot. No 

 single shoot should, on any account, be suffered to bear more than 

 two peaches ; and if it be not a strong shoot, not more than one ; 

 and this for the reasons amply given under the head of the apricot ; 

 where I ought to have observed that it is not the producing of 

 the pulp which requires the great elfort from the tree ; but the 

 bringing of the seed to perfection ; so that, though you are to 

 have the same weight of peaches on a tree that should bear a 

 hundred, as on a tree that should bear two hundred, still the effort 

 required from the tree would be only half as great in the former 

 case as in the latter ; because, in the former, there would be only 

 half the number of seeds. The sorts of peaches are very nume- 

 rous. I shall first give the list cultivated in the King's gardens, 

 and then give my opinion, founded on experience. Catherine, 

 Incomparable, OldNewington, Royal Pavey, Bears Early, Sour- 

 dine, Chancellor, Early Purple, Early Vineyard, French Mignonne, 

 Gallande, Montagne, Nohlesse, Persique, Red Magdalen, Royal 

 George, Teton de Venus, Yellow Alberge. The list of peaches 

 which I recommend are, the Early Anne, not very fine but early, 

 and a constant bearer, the Double Montagne, the Early Montau- 

 bon, the French Mignonne, the Grosse Mignonne, the Royal George, 

 the Noblesse, the Early Gallande, the Late Gallande, the Van- 

 guard, the Bellegarde, the Chancellor, and the Violette hative. 

 These are the best peaches, according to my observation ; and, 

 after the Early Anne, I have placed them as they appear to me 

 to be the best quality ; that is to say, the best first, and the least 

 good last. la point of bearing, the Royal George is a famous 

 peach, and it is not much excelled in any other respect. Peaches 

 should never be gathered (and the same with regard to nectarines) 

 until just about to drop from the tree. They are not to be pulled ; 

 and if they do not come off with just putting your hand under 

 them and giving them a little touch, they are not ripe ; and an 

 unripe peach is a very poor thing. Some people place a net along 

 in front of the tree, tacked on one si .e to the wall, and supported 

 on the other by little forked sticks, in order to catch the fruit 

 when they fall, and to prevent bruising. And this is a very good 

 way when you have not time to make an individual examination of 

 the fruit ; but, if one fall upon another, a bruising takes place in 

 spite of the swagging situation of the net. Peaches and nectarines 

 also may be preserved like apricots ; and they make, if possible, 



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