182 
THE FLORIST AND rOMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
once yielded to suggestions like these, but never 
with more satisfaction than when advised to 
plant the Altec and Early Purple Peaches. They 
have been spoken of favourably during the past 
summer, and after a two seasons’ trial, I can bear 
witness that on both occasions the fruiting has 
been equal to all that I had read and heard of 
them. One may, therefore, be excused for giving 
praise where it is so well due. Two years ago last 
August, these kinds were planted, along with 
others, from pots. After passing the summer 
under rather rough treatment, the glass struc¬ 
tures not being ready to receive them, they 
were carefully turned out, and the roots 
which had coiled round the sides of the 
pots were carefully undone. Little growth 
was made by the wood after August, but 
the roots laid hold of the soil, which had 
been rammed as firmly as if it had been for a 
floor, and spread several feet under the surface. 
The wood ripened like whalebone, and after 
the buds were thinned, all that were left set 
the following spring, so that the house was 
half-cropped within the year, all being cleared 
by the middle of August. 
The wood had grown rather strong, which 
necessitated lifting, to check growth. This was 
done about the end of August with about two- 
thirds of the roots ; no foliage dropped, but 
remained on the tree till October. The wood 
being nearly red and the buds plump, the trees 
were pruned. The past season has been one of 
the best in my experience, for crop and quality— 
the former left heavy, to equalise growth, and 
the latter being aided no doubt by the month 
of powerful sun and dry air experienced during 
part of June and July, which acted so favour- 
abljr on the ripening process. Abec w T as the 
first to supply ripe fruit, and in the course of 
a week or so Early Purple (large, with purple 
skin next the sun, and shaded with bright 
crimson towards the tree) came in as a capital 
succession ; Bcllegarde and Royal George — 
two of the best second earlies—coming in to 
succeed the former at the right moment. A 
small tree of Princess of Wales supplied a few 
dozens of large fruit, till the succession-house 
gave supplies at the end of July. There may be 
earlier kinds than Abec and Early Purple , but 
I have seen none more useful.—-M. T. 
Macroz a mu Mackenzie 
