272 Observations on the Flat Peach of China, 



under the protection of a mat only, without any fire having 

 been used. In the last summer the wood became better and 

 earlier ripened ; and the blossoms, in consequence, opened 

 early in November, before the lights were replaced upon the 

 house. Fires, just sufficient to exclude actual frost, have 

 since been occasionally made, and the fruit, under this mode 

 of treatment, has already acquired the size of large Peas. 

 Much of the foliage of the last year still retains its place, in 

 health, and apparently in office. Of the future merits of the 

 fruit, I am of course ignorant ; but I believe, that with the 

 advantages of a curvilinear roof, with good glass, and the 

 branches trained close to it, well flavoured fruit might be 

 obtained from trees growing in pots, in April. 



The ability of trees to ripen crops of fruit is to a great 

 extent regulated by the quantity of light, which falls upon 

 their foliage. The same Pine- Apple Plant, which in summer 

 will feed and ripen a fruit of a given weight, and during the 

 same period generate the sap requisite to produce and feed 

 several strong scions, will not in winter, though kept in as 

 high temperature, be able to feed properly its fruit alone ; and 

 the powers of every fruit-bearing plant are governed by simi- 

 lar laws. A very abundant crop of good fruit must not 

 therefore be expected from a Peach tree, which flowers in 

 autumn. 



I have found excitability of habit to be hereditary in the 

 seedling offspring of plants, and to be transferable by the 

 pollen ; and therefore I imagine that there will be no diffi- 

 culty in obtaining from the Flat Peach other varieties of 

 similar habits free from the deformity, which has recom- 

 mended it to the Chinese ; but which cannot continue to 



