These two fruits are classed together. They not only belong to the same genus (Amygdalus), but the same species (persica) includes them both. The Nectarine differs from the Peach in being somewhat less, and in having a smooth skin, the skin of the Peach being downy. There have been instances of their being both found on the same branch, and single fruits have been found with the skin of the Peach on one side and that of the Nectarine on the other. They may each be arranged under two classes - viz., the free-stone Peaches and Nectarines, the flesh of which separates readily from the stone and skin; and the cling-stones, which have a firmer flesh adhering to both the stone and skin. The cultivation required by the Peach applies also to the Nectarine.

There is considerable difference of opinion among botanists as to the native country of the Peach. Persia has been considered by some to have been the place of its origin. "Decandolle is, however, of opinion that China is the native country of the Peach. His reasons are, that if it had originally existed in Persia or Armenia, the knowledge and culture of so delicious a fruit would have spread sooner into Asia Minor and Greece. The expedition of Alexander is probably what made it known to Theophrastus, B.C. 322, who speaks of it as a Persian fruit. . . . Admitting this to be the country, how can it be explained that neither the early Greeks, nor the Hebrews, nor the people who speak Sanscrit, and who have all sprung from the upper region of the Euphrates, had grown the Peach-tree? On the contrary, it is very probable that the stones of a fruit-tree cultivated from all antiquity in China may have been carried across the mountains from the centre of Asia into Cashmere or Bokhara and Persia. . . The cultivation of the Peach-tree, once established at this point, would easily extend on one side towards the west, and on the other by Cabul towards the north of India. In support of the supposition of a Chinese origin, it may be added that the Peach was introduced from China into Cochin China, and that the Japanese call it by the Chinese name Too. The Peach is mentioned in the books of Confucius, fifth century before the Christian era; and the antiquity of the knowledge of the fruit in China is further proved by the representations of it on sculpture and on porcelain.

The above are some of the arguments adduced by Decandolle against the commonly-received opinion that the Peach originated in Persia." *

The Peach was introduced into this country more than 200 years ago, when most likely it was brought from France, where it had been cultivated a long time before that period. In the south of France it succeeds as a common standard; but in the north it requires to be grown against walls. In Britain it succeeds outdo-only against walls with south aspects; but even under such favourable conditions, outdoor crops are very uncertain over the greater part of the kingdom. It is only under glass that good annua] crops can be produced. The Peach season can, by early forcing and growing it in cool houses, be extended to seven months of the year. I have for years in succession gathered ripe Peaches the last week of April, and continued to do so till the last week of October.

* Treasury of Botany.

Peach-House For Early Forcing

It is needless to occupy time and space with arguments to show that for the early forcing of the Peach a lean-to house, similar to that recommended for the early forcing of the Vine, is the best. In all respects it may be the same, except in the trellis-work for training the trees to; and even in this respect the arrangement may be the same, except that the roof should be wired more closely for Peaches than for Vines. However, in those days of clear glass, making hothouses much lighter than they could be made in former times, I would recommend the arranging of the trees as shown in fig. 9. The curved trellis in the centre of the house, with room between it and the front of the house, gives great convenience and facility for attending in every way to the trees. At the same time, the greater part of the back wall can be covered also, thus giving a larger fruit-bearing surface than when the trees are trained closely up all the way under the roof. The arrangement shown in fig. 9 gives a greater variety of position and temperature, and consequently a longer succession of ripe fruit. The quantity of pipes for Peach-forcing need scarcely be so much as for the Vine. Pour rows of 4-inch pipes along the front and both ends of a lean-to house 16 feet wide, will be sufficient.

A steaming-tray should also be attached to the pipes.

Fig. 9.

I have ripened Peaches in April in houses not more than 8 feet wide - mere glass cases; but such small houses are so very easily influenced by the fluctuations of the weather, that they should never be adopted. And a house of the dimensions of fig. 9, I consider not too large. But this is a matter that admits of modification, according to circmnstances.

Peach-House When Ripe Peaches Are Not Required Before July

When ripe Peaches are not required before July, the span-roofed form of house, the same as has been recommended for late vineries, is the best. It should, of course, run north and south. The span-roofed form affords a great amount of training surface, and gets the sun morning, noon, and evening. The wires should be fixed at 14 inches from the glass, and 8 inches apart. There are some fine examples of span-roofed Peach-houses at Floors Castle, 60 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 16 feet high. The whole surface of glass from the bottom of the front lights upwards is available for being furnished with bearing wood, as it gets ample light. Tor heating such houses, there should be at least three rows of 4-inch pipes round each side and both ends, and a steaming-tray along the front. There cannot be a greater mistake than that of under-heating with either pipes or boiler-power. It is much safer and more economical to err on the side of having too much than too little. It saves fire, and keeps up the required temperature without violently heating the pipes.

For late crops to be ripened without fire-heat, and when the object is to have Peaches on to the end of October, the span-roofed form of Peach-house is also best. At the same time, when an existing garden wall can be covered with a lean-to glass roof, it answers perfectly well. A house of this description - say 11 feet wide, with trees covering the whole back wall, and so far up the roof from the front as not to shade the trees on the back wall - gives great space for Peaches. There should be ample ventilation at front and top, kept constantly on after all danger from frost is over. I have gathered Peaches - Walburton Admirable - as late as the 24th October at Archerfield, one of the earliest parts of Scotland; while earlier varieties in the same house were ripe the middle of August. In a house of this description there should always be a flow and return pipe, to keep frost from the trees when in blossom. I have known Peach-blossom destroyed in narrow lean-to Peach-houses by severe spring frosts.

And with the means of keeping frost out, the floor of the house is available for flower-garden plants.

In all Peach-houses ventilation should be amply provided for. In the case of very early forcing, when the crop is all gathered before the 1st of June, the top and bottom ventilation should be very abundant; indeed it is a good plan to have the roof constructed so that the lights can be partly, if not wholly, removed for two or three months in the heat of summer. At all events, the ventilation should be amply sufficient to keep the house as cool as possible. The whole of the side lights of span-roofed houses should open, and the top ventilation be made so "as to open to a considerable extent. In recommending the covering of existing Peach-walls with glass, I am fully convinced that this will always be found satisfactory, inasmuch as without doing anything else to the Peach-trees, if in other respects they are in moderate condition, the mere covering of them with glass will not only insure crops of Peaches every year, but all blistering of the foliage, and most of the other ills which beset the Peach in the greater number of the gardens of this country, will be got rid of.

At Archerfield I had a Peach-wall covered on which the trees formerly did very little good, and after being covered with a lean-to house, they speedily became healthy and vigorous, annually bearing great quantities of fine fruit. The same applies to the Peach-wall at Dalkeith, and other places that could be named.