October 12,1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 335 
12th 
Tn 
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13 th 
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14th 
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15th 
Sun 
19th Sunday after Trinity. 
16 th 
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[Two days. 
17th 
XU 
Sale of Plants at the Sunbury Nursery by Protheroe & Morris. 
18th 
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Sale of Bulbs at Stevens’s Booms, Covent Garden. 
VARIETIES OF PEACHES AND NECTARINES. 
S the time has arrived for planting these from 
‘ V/An< the nurseries, it has occurred to me that a few 
remarks upon the merits of old and new varie¬ 
ties might prove acceptable to many readers. 
At any rate I shall open the subject, both be¬ 
cause I always enjoy writing upon and com¬ 
paring the relative values of different varieties of 
fruits or vegetables, and also because my remarks 
may elicit the opinions of others corroborative of or in 
opposition to my own experience; I do not propose to 
confine myself exclusively to present experiences, but shall 
allude to what has come under my notice in former situations 
and also in the gardens under the charge of practical men. 
There is no doubt the introduction of late years of remark¬ 
ably early varieties of these two fruits has much simplified 
their culture, as we are now able to secure very early crops 
without much hard forcing, this in some instances amounting 
to a considerable saving in fuel. Unfortunately the fruit of 
several of the Peaches more especially, for which we have to 
thank the late Mr. Rivers, are small in size—in fact are often¬ 
times below medium, this consequently rendering them of much 
less value than would otherwise be the case. There is no dis¬ 
puting the fact that not only must we grow heavier crops than 
of old, but the size of the fruit must in nowise be diminished. 
Small and colourless fruit are of comparatively little value, 
especially in the markets, and for this reason such varieties as 
Early Beatrice, Early Louise, Early Albert, and Early Alfred 
will never be grown extensively. At the same time one or 
more of them ought at present to be included in every collec¬ 
tion, whether where early forcing is resorted to, where only 
one house is devoted to Peach and Nectarine culture, or where 
they are grown exclusively on the open wall, simply because 
their extreme earliness insures a more lengthened supply than 
was possible at one time. 
On the open walls in Middlesex I have grown good-sized 
specimens which perfected fair crops of the four varieties 
above mentioned, but taking into consideration our limited 
space, the conclusion arrived at was that we had at least two 
varieties too many. Early Beatrice, being decidedly the 
earliest, was retained ; so also was Early Louise, this being 
about a week later, larger fruited, and of superior quality to 
the former. Early Albert and Early Alfred ripening about 
the same date as the latter did not equal, so far as quality was 
concerned, the glowing descriptions given of them by com¬ 
petent authorities ; in fact, to form a succession to Early 
Beatrice I now prefer Hale’s Early, this to be followed by 
Early Grosse Mignonne. Hale’s Early has proved disappoint¬ 
ing to some growers, simply because they received a spurious 
form. The true variety, such, for instance, as has been grown 
for several years by Mr. Austin of Ashton Court near Bristol, 
grows freely, is very early, and the fair-sized fruit are highly 
coloured and agreeable, though not remarkably rich in flavour. 
This and Alexander,"another American variety, if all accounts 
are true, will eventually supersede the early English-raised 
varieties. I find Alexander grows most satisfactorily, and 
have confidently planted it in the early house to take the 
place of worn-out older kinds. Early Rivers I am unacquainted 
with. It is described as being the “ finest early Peach in cul¬ 
tivation,” and I should.be glad of further information concern¬ 
ing it, and also the extremely handsome A Bee. Early York 
does not succeed well in the open here, as it is much attacked 
with mildew, and the fruit lacks sweetness. This and Acton 
Scott, which at one time was particularly useful for an early 
supply, may well be struck out of the catalogues, as they are 
not now required. Crawford's Early is very distinct, the fruit 
being large, of a rich lemon colour, tingedjwith pale red next 
the sun ; but I am not favourably impressed with the quality, 
as, although melting and juicy, it appears to lack briskness— 
in fact, is rather flat. Exquisite, also of American origin, 
much resembles it in general appearance, but is a fortnight 
later. I recently found on testing that it was scarcely so ex¬ 
quisitely flavoured as the name would suggest. Both look well 
on the exhibition table. 
Of the various main-crop varieties I am acquainted with I 
am of opinion that few equal and none surpasses Grosse Mig¬ 
nonne. I have grown it and its synonyms Neal’s Purple, 
Royal Kensington, and Padley’s Purple under glass and in the 
open in four widely separated counties, have seen it growing 
in many more, and in each instance it proved most serviceable. 
It possesses a good constitution, sets freely, the fruit swells 
to a good size, is highly coloured, and sufficiently melting, 
rich, brisk, and juicy. Bellegarde, slightly later, is more 
popular among exhibitors and growers for market, and no col¬ 
lection may be said to be complete without this extremely 
highly coloured variety. According to my experience, how¬ 
ever, it is less vigorous and scarcely so good in quality as the 
foregoing. Royal George is, perhaps, the best known second 
early or main-crop variety, and probably when in good cond i- 
tion there is no higher-flavoured delicious Peach cultivated. 
Unfortunately this again is very liable to mildew both in a 
young state and also when well established. This is especially 
the case when grown in unheated houses and on the open wall. 
One of the best and most profitable trees we have in a late 
house is labelled Millett’s Mignonne, and this I find to be 
synonymous with Royal George. Noblesse is one of the most 
delicious Peaches grown, but it often lacks colour, and appears 
to be of weakly constitution. Like other large-flowered varie¬ 
ties the blooms are deficient in pollen, and a good set is not 
easily secured. I have seen it very good in second early and 
late houses, but never particularly good on open walls. Chan¬ 
cellor is now seldom met with, and I am not surprised at it, as 
I find it comparatively worthless; in fact, this and Lord Pal¬ 
merston have turned me against varieties the flesh of which is 
very deep red next the stone. I have given both a second 
trial, but although the trees have the best positions in the houses 
they are both rooted out. Lord Palmerston is remarkably 
handsome when in flower, and the fruits grow to a great size ; 
but for dessert purposes it is worthless, and not particularly 
No. 120 .—Vol. V., Third Series. 
No. 177C.—You LXYIII.. Old Series. 
