CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH. 
155 
In America, too, it is most extensively and 
successfully cultivated as a standard tree ; 
indeed, it has been supposed that some of its 
stations .in that country may be regarded as 
proving it to be indigenous there. It was ob- 
served growing to a very large size near the 
Mississippi, in Louisiania; and though it might 
possibly have been conveyed there, yet this is 
a sufficient reason to suppose it to be a natural 
inhabitant of that country. 
Like most other cultivated plants, the Peach 
has progressively increased in the number of 
its varieties. Gerard mentions four kinds ; 
Parkinson, twenty-one ; Miller, thirty ; and 
Lindley has described about sixty different 
sorts, many of which are, however, of inferior 
quality. It will be desirable to give a selec- 
tion of some of the most useful kinds pre- 
viously to entering on any remarks connected 
with cultivation. The accompanying lists are 
arranged in the order of their ripening. 
SELECT LIST OF PEACHES. 
Red Nutmeg (syn. Brown Nutmeg, Red 
Avant.)— This is a small, roundish, deep red, 
mottled fruit, of good flavour, ripening about 
the end of July. It is chiefly valuable on 
account of its earliness and hardy constitution. 
It requires to be eaten before it is too ripe. 
Acton Scot. — A medium-sized fruit, nearly 
round, of a pale colour, mottled with red. 
Ripens about the end of August. The fruit 
is good flavoured, and the tree hardy. 
Grosse Mignonne. — This, which is one of 
the very best Peaches in cultivation, is known 
also by fifty other names. It is a large, rather 
flat fruit, greenish yellow, and deep purplish 
red, with an exceedingly rich flavour, and a 
good bearer ; ripens from the middle of Au- 
gust to the beginning of September. The 
tree is not so subject to the mildew as some 
other kinds are. 
Royal George (syn. MilleWs Mignonne, 
Red Magdalen), is another very excellent 
kind ; the fruit is of moderate size, round, 
light coloured, and dotted or blotched with 
deep red. It is of a most excellent flavour, 
and is a good bearer ; ripening about the end 
of August, or the beginning of September. 
Noblesse. — This excellent Peach is fre- 
quently confounded with another called the 
Vanguard, which is by some considered to be 
distinct ; they are, however, so nearly resem- 
bling eaoh other, as not to be worth cultivat- 
ing in the same garden as different kinds. 
The fruit is large, roundish, of a palish green 
colour, clouded with red on the exposed side, 
and of most excellent flavour. It is a good 
bearer, and ripens about the end of August, 
or the beginning of September. 
Old Newington. — Another good kind, with 
large fruit, somewhat resembling the last in 
appearance. It ripens about the beginning 
of September. 
Mountaineer. — This is a very hardy tree, 
raised between the Red Nutmeg Peach, and 
the Violette Hative Nectarine. It is moderate 
in size ; roundish oval in outline ; pale green 
coloured, mottled with red ; ripens about the 
beginning of September, and partakes rather 
of a nectarine flavour. 
Bellegarde (syn. Galande, Violette Ha- 
tive.) — This is an old French sort, and, 
although somewhat tender, is, nevertheless, 
one of the very best Peaches in cultivation. 
It is a large fruit, deep red, clouded with 
darker colour, nearly round, and is high fla- 
voured. Ripens about the middle of Sep- 
tember. 
Barrington. — A large, pale yellow and red, 
roundish, very rich-flavoured fruit ; ripening 
about the middle of September. The tree is 
of vigorous growth, and not liable to mildew. 
Chancellor. — An excellent late Peach. The 
fruit is of medium size, somewhat oval, green- 
ish yellow, marked with dark red ; ripens about 
the middle of September. 
Late Admirable (syn. Bourdine.) — A very 
old sort ; fruit large, roundish, greenish yel- 
low, clouded with red ; and ripens from the 
middle to the end of September. It is one of 
the best late Peaches. 
Catharine. — A pale yellow fruit, mottled 
with bright red ; medium in size, round and 
sweet. It ripens about the beginning of Oc- 
tober, which is as late as the Peach will attain 
maturity in this country, under ordinary cir- 
cumstances, out of doors. 
SELECT LIST OF NECTARINES. 
Hunt's Tawny. — A small fruit, chiefly 
valuable for its earliness. It is roundish 
ovate in form ; pale orange and red coloured ; 
of good flavour ; and ripens about the middle 
of August. 
Elruge (syn. Claremont.) — This fruit is of 
medium size, somewhat oval in figure, and 
pale green and violet red coloured ; the flavour 
is delicious. It ripens about the end of Au- 
gust, or the beginning of September. This 
and the next are the most valuable Nec- 
tarines in cultivation. 
Violette Hative (syn. Hampton Court, 
Early Brugnon.) — Resembling the last in 
general character and appearance, and pos- 
sessing similar good qualities. 
Newington, — A large, round fruit : colour, 
pale green, marked with dark red ; flavour, 
very rich and sugary. It ripens about the 
beginning of September. The fruit is excel- 
lent when beginning to shrivel. 
Roman. — This kind is not quite so free- 
growing in many situations as some others. 
The fruit is large, roundish, greenish yellow 
