ABSTKACTS. 



337 



than it can support without devitalisation. The balance must be pre- 

 served by careful culture of the soil without mutilation of root at the 

 proper time, and the tree should be trimmed severely. A. tree carefully 

 cultivated, fertilised, thinned, and trimmed never suffers from June 

 drought and will stand the cold weather better. The author deplores 

 cultivation and pruning out of season. — V. J. M. 



Peach Mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa). William Carruthers 

 (Jour. B.A.S. vol. lxii. p. 247 ; 1901).— Reported from Kent. It is related 

 to the Hop mildew. " Sprays used for Hop mildew would destroy that 

 on the Peach tree, but the solution should be weaker, or it would damage 

 the more tender foliage of the Peach." — B. N. 



Peaches : Imperfect Fertilisation. By F. C. Stewart and H. J. 

 Eustace (U.S.A. Exp. Stn. Neiv York, Bull. 200, pp. 89-93 ; 4 plates ; 

 1901). — It has been observed that imperfectly fertilised Peaches may 

 attain considerable size and remain hanging on the trees till September. 

 In such cases this trouble may be mistaken for the " little Peach " disease 

 by persons unfamiliar with the latter. However, in the " little Peach " 

 disease the pit is of normal size and provided with a well- developed 

 kernel, whilst in cases of imperfect fertilisation the pit is abnormally 

 small and has no kernel, or at least only a partially developed one. This 

 difference will enable any one to distinguish readily between the two 

 troubles. — 31. C. C. 



Peaches, A New Strain of. By C. Sprenger (Bull B. Soc. Tosc. 

 Ort. 4, p. 101 ; April 1902). — The Peach was introduced into Italy and 

 cultivated in the first century of the Christian era. Neither Cato, Varro, 

 nor Cicero mentions it, but we know something of it from Pliny and 

 Columella. Nectarines, or hard Peaches, seem to have been first intro- 

 duced : they are to-day very common in South Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. 

 The very fine Neapolitan Peaches have existed in Naples since Pliny's time, 

 and have always kept constant when grown from seed. The writer thinks 

 that the famous Chrysomela of Pliny's time was not a Quince but a true 

 Peach. The true Peaches, with sweet soft pulp, easily separating from 

 the stone, came from South France, where the original forms were first 

 introduced from their native land, Asia. France is the home of the true 

 Madeleines. It is not certain where Nectarines originally came from, 

 perhaps introduced by the Saracens who settled in Palermo in 831. The 

 writer several. years ago came across a new variety or race of Nectarines 

 in Palermo and South Italy which is very perfect and otherwise interesting, 

 and will be called ' Nubian,' as he is convinced that the Saracens brought 

 it from Africa. The pulp does not very easily separate from the stone, 

 but is exquisite, juicy, and refreshing, and ripens rather late. He has 

 introduced it into Florence. — W. C. W. 



Pear *Comtesse de Paris.' By C. Jokisch (Gartenflora, p. 42; 

 fig. 7; 15/1/1902). — A good dessert winter Pear, of medium size, lasting 

 till January. The tree is hardy and forms a good pyramid. — J. B. 



Pear, Cross-fertilisation of. By W. S. Ross (U.S.A. Hort. Soc. 



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