JuNB 8, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



433 



HARDY PEACH CULTURE. 



Much may be said in favour of the culti- 

 vation of almost any kind of hardy fruit, 

 as the work is most interesting, and the 

 results, when skill has been employed, the 

 needful attention bestowed^ and every re- 

 quirement of the subject provided for, 

 satisfying and encouraging. 



The cultivation of the peach, as a hardy 

 out-door fruit, however, demands the 

 greatest knowledge, keenest discrimination, 

 closest attention, and largest amount of 

 labour in its management, and for this 

 reason, may be credited with l)eing the 

 most fascinating kind to grow. The intro- 

 duction of hot-water pipes and cheap glass 

 probably accounts for the absence of th's 

 tine fruit on the outdoor walls of so many 

 of the gardens in the country, or, it may 

 be, that a diminished staff cannot afford 

 the necessary time to bestow the attention 

 indispensable to success in its management. 

 Either way, there are many garden walla 

 in England, Wales, and Ireland, which could 

 be utilised for the production of peaches 

 with every success if care was taken in the 

 preparation of the soil, and cultural re- 

 quirements were attended to. 



The peach luxuriates in a well-drained, 

 stiff loam containing a high percentage of 

 phosphates, lime, and potash, but the 

 amount of humus, containing nitrogen, 

 should be varied in accordance with the 

 general atmospheric influences obtaining in 

 the locality. In no case should what is 

 termed strong growth be encouraged in 

 any peach tree grown out of doors in a 

 variable climate, low-lying, or moist situa- 

 tion, as the possibilities are that it will not 

 sufficiently mature to ensure robust blooms 

 and a free '^sef of fruit. A rather poor 

 soil with a liberal sprinkling of bone-meal 

 or basic slag and old plaster will prove an 

 excellent medium. If there is a deficiency 

 of potash in the compost, and it is generally 

 the case, this can be added by surface dress- 

 ings of sulphate of potash of from loz. to 

 l^ozs. to the square yard during the grow- 

 ing season. 



Like most stone fruits, the peach makes 

 roots early, and for this reason autumn is 

 the best time to plant it. When carrying 

 out this operation it is well to remember 

 that the stem will swell with 

 and if placed near the wall will get 

 damaged on coming in contact with 

 It at the base . The shoots ma v be 

 fastened 



time, 



to the wall then 



may 

 with nails 



and twine, but no pruning attempted till 

 the following spring. At this period it is 

 usually found that a portion of the points 

 of the growths have died. Tliese. and 

 these only, should be removed with a sharp 

 knife, or secateurs with two blades. It is 

 at this stage of growth that real cultiva- 

 tion starts, and the success or failure will 



depend materially upon the attention be- 

 stowed. 



Disbudding, as the buds push forth, 

 should be systematically performed by rub- 

 ^•ng off about a third of those not required. 

 Allow about four days to pass, and then 

 remove another third, and after another 

 like period reduced the number on the plant 

 to what is required to cover the allotted 

 space so that the shoots will be from 4in. 

 to 6m. apart. It is by attending to this 

 Item of management that the vigour of the 

 i^ree is concentrated in the growths 

 required, and light and air are enabled to 

 play around and ripen them. Although 

 these details of management are familiar 

 to those who grow peaches under glass, 

 y^t, although it may seem incredulous, not 

 ten per cent, of those I meet with, who are 

 attempting to grow them out-of-doors, have 

 any idea of thinning the shoots, or the 



advantages gained by doing so. In fact 

 the majority treat their peaches in much 

 the same w^ay as they do a pear, and then 

 wonder why they do not get fruit. 



Established trees under good manage- 

 n.ent will be in flower at the time disbud- 

 ding is taking place, so that syringing can- 

 not be commenced until the petals have 

 fallen, but with newly-planted trees this 

 operation can be carried out in the after- 

 noons of warm, sunny days. With the 

 object of keeping the plants free from 

 gr. en-fly and spider, a little soft soap 

 s.iould be mixed with the water once a 

 week, and the plants themselves liberally 

 supplied with Avater at the root on all 



occasions M'hen moisture is deficient in the 

 soil. 



During the summer months the young 

 growths should be periodically attended to. 



mixture to adhere to the wall and wood 

 throughout May and June. About four 

 parts of sulphur to one of clay, niixe<l in 

 water, and of tlie consistency of thin paint, 

 are the proportions I have found most 

 effective. iHiBEBxiA. 



RHODOCHITON VOLUBILE. 



This is a Ijeautiful and useful climber 

 which should be grown in every garden. It 

 is usually treated as a greenhouse plant, 

 but when planted out of doors it succee<]s 

 equally as well. In the North of ScotlamI 

 I have seen it attaining a height of 10ft. 

 and blooming from June till October, wdien 

 planted against a south wall. It is a rapid 

 grower, and is useful for covering old tree 

 stumps and bare, unsightly walls. 



The flowers are borne in long trails; the 



C M. 206 



( ' A u X A 11 OX w 0 D i : \ I ill 1 1-: . 



\ pure white, fringed and fragrant perpetual-flowering carnation: blooms of large size 

 and fine substance. A.M., R.iH.S., April 16. Messrs. W. Wells and Co., Merstham. 



and tied to the wall, in order that they may 

 have the advantage of its warmth to mature 

 them. Any trees carrying a heavy load 

 of fruit could be assisted with nitrate of 

 so<la or liquid farmyard manure, but in 

 the use of either, care should be taken not 

 to encourage a too strong growth. As 

 syringing should be discontinued when the 

 fruit is ripe, a thorough drenching, with 

 force, should be given once the trees are 

 cleared. 



As a protection against the various mil- 

 dews, that attack the peach tree out of 

 doors, I have found nothing to equal sul- 

 phur and a little clay syringed on trees and 

 walls in winter in no half-hearted way. 

 The only virtue clay possesses in this case 

 is its binding property, and only sufl&cient 

 of it need l)e employed to induce the 



calvx is of a reddish colour, and tlie corolla 

 hlackisli, while the stamens are white. In 

 autunui the leaves turn a deep rtnl colour, 

 giving t»he whole plant a handsome appear- 

 ance. See<ls are generally sown in the 

 autumn, but if sown at the present time in 

 panSj good results will be obtained. Sow 

 the seeds thinly, and place the pans over 

 gentle bottom heat. When the seedlings 

 are large enough pot them off singly into 

 3in. pots, and put a stake to each one. 

 Planting out can be done with safety to- 

 wards the eml of May. During <lry 

 weather applications of weak liquid maiiuie 

 will prove Ixmeficial. Those who have not 

 already tried this charming plant fr^hould 

 grow it, as I feel sure tliat they will be 

 delighted with it. T>. S. Anhkhson. 



Wemyss Castle Gardens. 



