596 THE peach. 



larger, and the space between filled with moss ; this serves to keep the 

 roots at a more even temperature than would be the case were they to 

 stand without this double potting. The trees are generally prepared by 

 training one or two years before being brought into fruit, forming a head 

 at about one foot to sixteen or eighteen inches of stem. This is done by 

 a systematic system of pinching or summer pruning, removing the end 

 of each shoot as fast as it grows to form three or four leaves._ lhis 

 pinchincr gives to the head a compact round form, and supplies it with 

 numerous spurs or bearing shoots. The trees or pots are kept m the 

 house all winter, and the thermometer in no instance allowed to go be- 

 low zero, as the buds are more easily affected than those of out-door cul- 

 ture. It is usual to commence heating by artificial means about the 

 middle of January, increasing it as the season advances and the natural 

 growing season and influence of the sun's rays are increased, giving 

 all the time attention to reducing the temperature at night and increas- 

 ing it by day, as in the natural life out of doors. Great heat may be 

 maintained in a peach-house, but it must be always accompanied by ? . 

 abundant watering, or the trees will be liable to drop their fruit before 

 mature Some growers place their trees in warm, sheltered situations i 

 out of doors a few days before fall ripening, believing it affects and in- 

 creases the flavor of the fruit. 



Growing peaches in pots without the aid of glass structures or lire- 

 heat has also been successfully practised. The trees are prepared, 

 pruned, and grown the same as for house culture, and during the grow-a 

 in* season the pots are plunged in the open ground in a warm, sheltered!, 

 position in the garden, due attention being given to watering. Just 

 before the approach of severe winter, say about the middle of Novem- 

 ber they are removed into a cool, light cellar or pit frame, there tcfcl 

 remain during winter. In spring they are returned to the garden, anck 

 should there be any sign of frost or cold, to injure the blooms they art 

 protected by means of a cloth awning, arranged so that it can be drawr 

 over them at a moment's notice. 



VARIETIES. 



The varieties of peach are almost innumerable, new seedlings beim 

 produced in this country with great facility, and, after being heralded foi 



a season, are suffered to pass out of existence and then^ places occupie( 

 with still later productions. A few of the old sorts remain as good to 

 day as when this work was first written, and occasionally a new variet; 

 is found of superior merits. In the following pages descriptive we havjL 

 endeavored to record all of much value, omitting many which are infcfflt 

 rior, and others perhaps that, although good, were not sufficiently so t, 

 make them desirable, and therefore they are rare to be found in any ooJt 



A Bec. 



Mignonne a Bec. Pourpree a Bec. 



This is a new variety, ripening ear]y in August. The leaves hav 

 globose glands. Flowers large. 



