THE 
FLORIST AND POMOLOGUST. 
NEW VARIETIES OF NECTARINE. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
r'B-^OT the least of the benefits conferred on British Horticulture by the veteran 
horticulturist, Thomas Rivers, has been the raising of numerous choice 
varieties of fruits; and amongst these Mr. Rivers’ New Peaches and 
Nectarines stand prominently forth as acquisitions of the highest value. 
We have already given an illustration of Lord Palmerston Peach, a variety 
which we owe to the establishment at Sawbridgeworth, and we now figure two 
New Nectarines from the same source, from specimens which have been 
obligingly furnished to us by the Rev. W. F. Radclyffe. 
The Pine-apple Nectarine (fig. 1) is described as u large, nearly oval, 
pointed; colour, deep orange and crimson, very rich ; ripens from a week to ten 
days later than the Pitmaston Orange ; the richest of all Nectarines.” The 
sample from which our figure was made was about middle size, oval, pointed, the 
skin intense purplish-crimson, passing into crimson on the parts less exposed. 
The fruit was sent unripe for facility of carriage, but Mr. Radclyffe speaks in the 
highest terms of its quality. The glands of the leaves were round. 
Rivers’ White Nectarine (fig. 2) is said to be “ large, melting, juicy, and 
vinous ; requires a warm, dry soil; well adapted for pot-culture under glass or 
forcing; it is earlier than the New White.” This variety forms a striking con¬ 
trast to the high-coloured sorts in a dessert. The fruits we examined were 
roundish, and of a pale greenish straw-colour, the flesh being pale-coloured 
throughout, tender, and melting, with abundance of brisk, vinous juice. The 
leaves were furnished with prominent sub-reniform glands. 
Remarking on these and others of his novelties, Mr. Rivers observes that 
u Lord Napier, a very fine early kind, and Albert Victor, Victoria, and Prince of 
Wales, all fine sorts that succeed the mid-season kinds, are likely to bring on great 
changes in our Nectarine culture, by prolonging their season. I think I may 
say with some confidence that the Pine-apple and the Large Elruge, added to the 
above, will form a group of fruit not easy to be matched. Fruit of Albert Victor 
and Victoria have been grown 8£ in. and 9 in. in circumference, and the Pine¬ 
apple, a most beautiful kind, of nearly the same dimensions.” Of the latter 
3rh series.— v. b 
