THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
211 
OPEN-AIR PEACH AND NECTARINE 
CULTURE. 
pE ACHES and nectarines are grown to perfection 
in many of the warmer and more favored parts 
of the country, open air culture on south, south- 
east, and south-west walls proving highly successful 
where the management is good. Tlie best varieties of 
peaches for this purpose are Waterloo, Hale's Early, 
Libra, Violette Hative, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of 
York, Grosse Mignonne, and Princess of Wales. Of 
nectarines the best outdoor varieties are Lord Napier, 
Elruge, Humboldt, Early Rivers, Precoce de Croncels, 
and Hardwicke Seedling. 
As a rule, open air peach culture will prove quite 
successful in any reasonably deep and well-drained 
garden soil ; but, of course, as is the invariable rule 
with all stone fruits, a good loamy soil is generally the 
best, and preferably one which is inclined to be heavy 
and somewhat retentive, although it is at the same time 
an advantage if the soil is rich in lime. 
In peach culture nearly every grower of note is 
agreed that perfectly ripe wood is desirable, and it may 
be said at once in this connection that the wood will 
never ripen properly if the roots are lying in contact 
with a wet, sodden subsoil. In planting in the open, 
therefore, the underlying soil should be carefully ex- 
amined, and, if need be, artificial draining must be in- 
troduced to cope with this excessive moisture. A 
depth of two feet of good soil is necessary in order 
that fine, healthy trees and well-flavored fruits may be 
produced. 
A good plan is to give twn nr three barrow-loads of 
good loam to each tree when planting, and at the same 
time a liberal sprinkling of lime may be forked in, to- 
gether with a small quantity of well-rotted manure, if 
the soil is rather poor. 
'Planting may be perfurmed at any time during the 
autumn or winter, providing the soil is not too wet 
The majorit}' of people plant fan-shaped trees fifteen 
feet apart, but, of course, the distance depends largely 
on the height of the wall, and its length, and also the 
number of varieties that the grower wishes to culti- 
vate ; on a low wall peaches may be planted much 
closer than fifteen feet apart. In any case, however, 
it is extremely important to avoid planting them too 
deeply ; the topmost roots should, in fact, be able to 
form just two or three inches below the surface of the 
soil. The roots must be carefully spread out, without 
cramping, as far as they will go, in a horizontal direc- 
tion, with a little fine soil placed over them, afterwards 
filling with soil or any special compost that may be 
thought advisable. Always make the trees firm by 
treading. 
The pruning of peaches and nectarines growing in 
the open is somewhat difficult, and the work is best 
left in the hands of someone who thoroughly under- 
stands it, otherwise the trees may be ruined. When 
first received from the nm-sery, for example, there will 
usually be a great deal of surplus wood to remove, and 
this must be thinned out directly after planting, so that 
the main shoots will be from twelve to sixteen inches 
apart, and the side shoots or laterals frotn four to six 
inches apart. The main shoots may subsequently be 
spread as the tree extends, and in this manner the 
grower will secure plenty of space for the develop- 
ment of the young fruiting wood. All basal wood and 
fruiting wood should always be kept on the main 
branches, and care should be taken to shorten any 
rank-growing slioots. 
Needless to say, it is impossible to secure a good 
crop of peaches or nectarines unless some efficient 
means of protection against frost is supplied, for the 
blossoms appear very early in the season, and so may 
be very quickly damaged. Whatever means of protec- 
tion is adopted, it should not be placed over the trees 
until a few of the blossoms are bursting, otherwise it 
will hasten the flowering and render them more liable 
to frost. Neither should the protection be left on at 
day time unless the winds are very cold. 
Attention must be given to. disbudding, for, if well 
protected, the trees will generally set their fruits very 
thickly, and the aim of the grower should always be 
to produce just as many shoots as are required to fur- 
nish next season's crop of fruit, and no more. Under 
good management, peaches and nectarines may be 
trained to develop an exact number of fruits for every 
square foot of wall space that is occupied, and the 
grower must decide what this number ought to be. 
Disbudding consists in removing a few of the shoots 
at a time, say, all but three or four on each fruit-bear- 
ing shoot, and as many on the leaders, or longer shoots, 
as will leave several intermediate shoots on each side 
where there is wall space to fill. The fruits must also 
be thinned judiciously, and the trees kept well supplied 
with plenty of water, and some frequent, but small, 
applications of liquid manure ; a little artificial fertilizer 
should also be given as soon as the fruits commence to 
swell. — Gardeners' Magazine (English). 
N' 
ATTRACTIVE BIRD POOL. 
OTHING gets a stronger attraction uyjon birds in 
hot weather than an abundant supply of fresh 
water. During the dry months of August and Sep- 
tember the birds practically desert the dry uplands for 
the borders of streams or s])rings, where the}- can be 
sure of finding water for drinking and bathing. For 
this reason the home that has no natural pool or 
spring nearby inust expect to have but few birds dur- 
ing this dry season unless some efi'ort is made to sup- 
ply the necessity. 
Perhaps the most attractive bird pool, or fountain, 
is that constructed in the form of a rockery in the 
garden with ferns and wild flowers planted about it. 
The concrete basin can either be sunk in the ground 
or raised on a pedestal. If the former, one should 
make sure that there are no lurking places in the 
proximity where cats. or other enemies can lie in wait 
to spring upon the birds while they are helpless with 
soaking feathers. 
Other kinds of bird fountains are those made in the 
form of large pottery saucers raised above the reach 
of marauding cats, or a still simpler arrangement, 
which, although less attractive, serves the purpose 
just as well, is a shallow pan or tray sunk in the 
ground or placed in any convenient place frequented 
by the birds. 
Whatever type of fountain is selected, a few points 
shijuld be adhered to. The bottom and sides should 
be rough so that the birds will not slip upon entering 
the water, for if they slip once they will never return. 
Secondly, the water should not be more than a half- 
inch in depth where the birds are expected to enter. 
Thev will often wade in deeper, but the bottom should 
slope or flat stones should be so arranged that the 
birds can enter at this depth. And thirdly, the water 
should be refreshed as often as it evaporates or be- 
comes stale. 
