184 THE FLORIST AND P0M0L0G15T. 



should be carefully broken-up by the hand, removing the coarse roots and also 

 the ling or grass, &c, from the surface of the sods, but not sifted or broken - 

 up very fine. Where a supply of brown grassy peat is not at command, one- 

 third of light sandy loam, as full of fibre as it can be obtained, may be used 

 for the stronger growers, and a small admixture of the same for the slender- 

 growing kinds. The compost should be well intermixed with a liberal quantity 

 of silver sand, and it and also the ball of the plant to be repotted should be in 

 a properly moist state at the time the operation is performed, and a plant 

 should not be repotted unless the ball and the soil to be used are in a properly 

 moist state. The pots must be carefully drained by covering the bottom with 

 nicely-placed crocks, and these with a thin layer of the turfy portion of the 

 peat. Then press the soil under the ball so as to make it firm, and pack the 

 fresh soil firmly around the ball, leaving as much space on the surface as will 

 hold sufficient water to fairly moisten the ball. 



Watering is a very important part of the management of this genus, and 

 unless this is properly managed the plants will not thrive, and it is one of those 

 things which can hardly be learned save from practice. If beginners, however, 

 "will be careful to examine their plants frequently, and, when the plant seems 

 to be dry, will give enough water to fairly soak the ball and not give any more 

 until, from the hollow ring of the pot and the state of the surface soil, they 

 feel satisfied that the ball is dry, they will soon get to understand when water 

 should be given. During the winter the plants Mall be in a comparatively 

 dormant state, and should be watered rather sparingly — that is, the pots should 

 be allowed to ring clearer and the surface soil to feel drier before water is given 

 than during the summer, or when the plants are in a more active state ; but 

 when a plant is watered, sufficient should be given to moisten the ball 

 throughout ; and the stronger-growing kinds should be watered rather more 

 freely, especially during the growing season, than the slender growers. Water 

 must also be very carefully given for some time after repotting, for there is 

 more danger of over or under watering then than in the case of plants which 

 are established in their pots ; and for a fortnight after repotting the plants 

 should be kept rather close and syringed more frequently, &c, which will 

 assist in preventing errors in watering at this critical period. 



Alpha. 



VIOLETTE HAT1VE PEACH. 



WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 



Synonymes. — JSnglisJi Galande ; Hardy Galande, 



This fine old variety ripens very nearly at the same time as the Grosse 

 Mignonne, and, though found in some old collections, is far from being gene- 

 rally known. It is not so high-coloured as the Bellegarde or French Galande, 

 which our French neighbours call Noire de Montreuil, nor is it quite so 

 large. It is evidently of the same race, as its flowers are small and its glands 

 round. It is remarkably distinct in one respect ; for whereas the Bellegarde 

 will not grow when budded on the Muscle Plum stock, this succeeds perfectly 

 on it. No Peach is more melting and delicious, its flavour being very rich yet 

 slightly vinous. The tree is hardy and longlived in almost all soils. Flowers 

 small. Glands round. 



Our figure was taken from very fine fruit grown on a pot tree in the 

 orchard-house of Mr. Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth. 



