GARDEN FRUITS.
88. The characters of such of these as are chiefly culti vated, and chiefly deserving of attention in this country, may be mentioned.
The White Magdalen, or Early Magdalen, is a round fruit, of a middling size, with a deep furrow ; of a pale the fruit, however, is improved by lying two or three days before being used it is sometimes called the October Peach.
89. To the ample list of Miller, a few others might be added. The ?inn Peach, sometimes called the Early Ann, is a small round fruit, of a yellowish white colour, faintly tinged with red on the sunny side ; ripening about the mid dle of August. This is said to be of English origin. The Royal Kensington is described by Forsyth, and the tree is said to grow freely, and not to he liable to blight. The Orange Peach is mentioned by Nicol as the most elegant he was acquainted with, and the best-flavoured of the cling stones ; rather large than otherwise, round, dark red or purple next the sun, and bright orange on the other side ; the flesh of a deep orange colour, but purple at the stone ; the tree a very great bearer. It is possible this may be the Yellow Alberge, the fourth in the tabular list above given. The Double flowering Peach is sometimes cultivated for curiosity, on standards, being very ornamental while in bloom ; the flowers being only semi-douhle, fruit is gene rally produced, and in fine seasons abundantly ; in most cases, however, it is fit only for preserves.
90. That indefatigable and excellent hot ticulturist, Mr Knight, has produced several new peaches of the most promising qualities, at his seat,of Dowmon in Hereford shire. After due precautions to bring his trees (small ones planted in large pots) to the highest state of health and vigour, he impregnated the pistil of one with the pollen of another : only three peaches were suffered to re main on each tree : from sowing the stones of these, he ob tained his new varieties. The situation of Downton being rather high and late, it may reasonably be presumed that fruits produced there will succeed in all places not less fa vourably situated as to climate. Two of these new peaches deserve particular notice ; I. The Acton Scott Peach ; the
fruit ripens early, and uniformly attains perfection ; it is juicy and sweet, with a rich flavour; where secluded from the sun's rays, the skin is very white : the tree is an abun dant bearer, and not subject to mildew : and Mr Knight considers it as calculated to succeed in many cold and un favourable situations, where the more delicate varieties would certainly fail. 2. The Spring Grove Peach has a firm flesh, but not hard ; the exterior colours are bright yellow and dark red; it melts in the mouth, resembling a nectarine in consistence as well as taste, having a re markably rich, brisk, and vinous flavour ; the stone parts 'readily from the flesh, which is of a greenish cast : it never becomes over-ripe or mealy, but is apt to shrivel a little, and is then most perfect : the tree grows slow ly, but the wood is healthy, and acquires .maturity early in the season : It succeeds better on an apricot than a plum stock.* By persevering in the track pointed out by Mr Knight, we may hope, in time, to obtain peach-trees sufficiently hardy to produce their fi uit in almost every situation in Britain, perhaps even as standards. In Maryland and Vir ginia, peach-trees are propagated from the stones, without budding. Every peach orchard contains, of course, nu merous varieties. Among these a few are always of super rior quality ; with the fruit of the rest, pigs are fed. One of these American seedlings, possessed of good properties, is now growing in the garden of Mr Braddick at Thames Hilton : it has produced fl Mt, which is figured in the se cond volume of the London Horticultural Transactions, un der the title of Braddick's Amer lean Peach.
In arranging the different varieties or peach-trees in a new garden, the late kinds, especially the pavies, must have the full south aspect ; the whet s may be a point or two to the east. The kinds which ripen nearly at the same time should, as far as possible, be placed together, as this afterwards saves much trouble in collecting for the desser!, especially in a large garden.