CULTURE OF THE PEACH AND NECTARINE UNDER GLASS. 473 



cultivated in China, Japan, North America, and in most parts of Europe, 

 Its range in Persia and Asiatic Turkey appears to be between 30" and 40° of 

 north latitude ; but very little is known of the temperature or moisture of 

 the climate in these and other regions where the peach is indigenous. 

 Judging from general laws, it would appear that the winters are severe, the 

 springs cold or temperate, and the summers warm rather than hot ; but the 

 average temperature, or the extremes of heat and cold of these seasons, in the 

 countries mentioned, have not yet been ascertained. Our data for the culture 

 of the peach, therefore, must chiefly be taken from the practice in countries 

 where it is successfully cultivated, and in no country is it more so in the 

 open air than in the neighbourhood of Paris, or under glass than in England. 

 The writer of the article peach in the Penny Cyclopaedia, from facts 

 which we presume have been obtained in the Horticultural Society's 

 Garden, gives the following data, on which the practice of forcing the peach 

 may be safely founded. 



990. Natural and experimental data. — If the mean temperature of Febru- 

 ary amount to 40° and that of March to 44° or 45°, the peach-tree will be in 

 full flower against a wall with a south aspect about the last week in March ; 

 and the general crop will be ripe in the last week of August, or first week of 

 September, provided the mean temperature of April be 49°, May 55°, June 

 61°, July 64°, and that of August 63°. The period required for the matura- 

 tion of the fruit from the time of flowering is, on the open wall, five months ; 

 but it may be reduced to four by means of fire-heat and the protection of 

 glass. It cannot, however, be advantageously diminished any further. This 

 fact being borne in mind, it is easy for the gardener to know at what time to 

 commence forcing his peaches in order to obtain a crop in a given month. 



From the natural climate and habit of the peach-tree, it is obvious that 

 when forced it must be flowered under a comparatively low degree of tem- 

 perature. It cannot therefore be well forced simultaneously with the vine ; 

 for the temperature of March, which in this climate serves to bring the peach 

 into flower, does not unfold the buds of the vine, this being only eff'ected a 

 month or six weeks farther in the season by a mean temperature of 55°. The 

 peach may be subjected at first to a temperature of 45°, but not exceeding 

 55° till the flowering is over, after which it may be gradually raised to 60°, and 

 not exceeding 65°, till the substance of the stone is indurated ; and after this 

 crisis from 65° to 70° may be allowed. This is to be understood as referring to 

 the application of fire-heat. Even in the total absence of the latter, sun-heat 

 will frequently raise the temperature much higher ; but in this case a large 

 portion of air should be supplied, not, however, all at once after the tempe- 

 rature of the house is found too high, but gradually as the temperature 

 increases. Air should be always freely admitted through the day when the 

 weather is at all favourable. 



Light is so essential, that unless peaches be trained near the glass, the 

 fruit wiU neither acquire due colour nor flavour. Vicissitudes of dryness and 

 moisture must be avoided. The roots should be w^ell supplied with water 

 before the fruit begins to ripen off*, because at a later period none can be 

 applied without deteriorating the flavour. 



The management of the peach-tree can only be correctly understood by 

 those who are aware of the disposition of its buds and its mode of bearing. 

 The leaves on the shoots of the cun-ent season are produced either singly, in 

 pairs, or in threes from the same node. In the course of the summer, or 



