Horticultural Observations, [Appendix. 



The climate of France is certainly better suited to the culture 

 of the Peach, than that of England, as some sorts produce their 

 fruit there in perfection on espaliers, and a few on standards in 

 the open air. The people of Montreuil are, however, abundantly 

 more careful, than we are, to protect their trees from the actionof 

 frosts, during the time of flowering ; at that time a very slight 

 degree of frost is apt to seize upon the pistil, and if the sun shine 

 upon the flower before it is entirely thawed, this organ loses its 

 power of receiving the pollen, and the flower, in consequence, 

 drops off without setting its fruit. 



To guard against this, the tops of the peach walls are furnished 

 with long wooden pegs, or with iron wall-hooks, on which planks 

 are fixed ; and on them straw mats are hung in such a manner, 

 as to be rolled up or let down at pleasure. 



Those who do not use this precaution, light fires with damp 

 straw in such a manner, that the smoke may pass over the flower- 

 ing branches at sun rise. This intercepts, in some degree, the 

 direct rays of the sun, and, by its gentle warmth thaws the frozen 

 pistils by gradual and slow degrees ; others fasten the branches 

 cut from ever-green trees, with their leaves upon them, in front 

 , of the Peach Trees, to break off the cold air. 



Peaches are never eaten in perfection if suffered to ripen on 

 the tree ; they should be gathered just before they are quite soft, 

 and kept, at least, twenty -four hours in the fruit chamber. 



FigS ' , ■ w f 



The inhabitants of Argenteuil near Paris, derive their cnier 



support from the culture of Fig Trees ; near that town are im- 

 mense fields covered with these trees, on the sides of hills facing 

 the South, and in other places sheltered from the North, and the 

 North-west winds. 



In the Autumn the earth about theroots of these trees is stirred 

 and dug ; as soon as the frosts commence, the gardeners bend 

 down the branches, and bury them under six inches of mouk , 

 which is sufficient to preserve them from being frozen. 



