NECTARINE. 



251 



ginning of August. The leaves are slightly serrated ; 

 flowers large and open ; fruit small, and nearly 

 round ; of a beautiful scarlet on the exposed side, 

 and yellow behind. The pulp is melting, yellowish, 

 juicy, and of rich flavour. It is a good bearer, and 

 eligible for early forcing. 



Nectarines in general can bear a higher degree of 

 heat than peaches. Of course, in planting a house 

 With both, the nectarines have the warmest stations ; 

 and those of the same sort, in diff'erent tempera- 

 tures, yield the largest and best fruit in the warmest 

 places. 



This tree produces an unusual number of spur- 

 like shoots, thickly set with flower buds. If these 

 be wanted, they must not be shortened, as the lead- 

 ing buds can only be depended on for a next year's 

 shoot ; and they may be allowed to bear a fruit or 

 two, which will come to perfection because there is 

 a leading shoot. If such shoots be not wanted, re- 

 move them entirely ; as they are not worth pre- 

 serving, if there be a good choice of stronger 

 shoots. 



The best stock for working the nectarine upon, is 

 the pear plum ; and as this is the first time this 

 stock has been named, it may as well be described 

 in this place, as it will be frequently adverted to 

 hereafter. 



The pear plum is so called from the shape of its 

 fruit, which is altogether useless as a fruit ; but the 

 tree makes an excellent stock for several kinds of 

 our tender fruits. These are raised from layers. 



