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EARLY ALBERT PEACH

WITH AN ILLUSTRATION.

It is not often that in this country we have had to deal with new varieties of Peaches. Even those horticulturists who have devoted more than usual attention to the raising of new fruits, have not succeeded in producing many sorts of this fruit; and of those that have been produced there are not any, that we are aware of, that have displaced any of the older kinds, or which have taken rank with them. Successful as Mr. Knight was with Pears and Apples, we do not call to mind varieties of Peaches he succeeded in establishing, and it was not because he did not turn his attention in this direction. He made many attempts to produce what should be improvements on existing varieties; but, with the exception of Acton Scot, an insignificant little early sort, and Mountaineer, a large, coarse, and worthless variety, we are not aware that he produced any others. The only other great originator of fruits was Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, but we know of no Peach that can trace its origin to his skilful hand.

How this should be we cannot say, seeing the success that has attended the essays of Mr. Rivers. To this subject that gentlemen has devoted much time, and has brought a large amount of intelligence to bear upon it; and it is perhaps to these reasons that his success is mainly attributable. So great has been the good fortune attending Mr. Rivers's labours in this direction, that he has already produced varieties of Peaches sufficient in number, and in various characteristics and seasons, to be amply sufficient to supply every want, even if another Peach did not exist besides those that he himself has produced. We hope to be able from time to time to bring these various new kinds of Mr. Rivers before our readers, and in the meantime introduce them to one which, we believe, is one of the earliest of these productions.

The EARLY ALBERT Peach is of rather large size, roundish, and frequently higher on one side of the suture than the other, and with a dimpled apex. Skin greenish yellow, and covered with small red points on the shaded side, but deep crimson, becoming sometimes almost black, when grown against a wall and fully exposed. Flesh white, very tender, and melting, with a faint brick red tinge next the stone, from which it separates freely, and with an abundant, sugary, and vinous juice, which is very rich. It is a first-rate early Peach, ripening in the beginning of August.

THE CULTURE OF THE CINERARIA.

DURING the autumn, winter, and spring there are few plants that add more to the gaiety and beauty of the conservatory than the many improved varieties of the Cineraria. They are also invaluable for in-door decoration; the colours of some of the sorts are very brilliant by artificial light. That a plant possessing such qualities should become very popular is only a mere matter of course, and hence the great improvement that has been effected in it of late years. The last year or two have, however, added but little in the way of improved varieties to those we already possessed. Let me express the hope that the coming season may be productive of some good sorts.

In place of growing a number of named varieties, as was the custom a few years ago, many gardeners and amateurs now raise a quantity of plants annually from seed. They find their cultivation attended with much less trouble than growing plants from offsets of named sorts; they also find them generally

VOL. V.

flower much earlier, so that they come in useful for in-door decoration during the winter months; and the loss of the plants, owing to the dry atmosphere of the rooms, is of little consequence, as a fresh quantity can be easily grown from seed for another season.

Formerly, I grew a number of the best named sorts then out, but often lost one or more of them after they had done flowering. I also found that even when I had the offsets potted as early as possible, and with every care and attention afterwards with regard to shading, shifting, and watering, I could rarely bring the plants forward enough to flower freely before the end of February.

Since I have taken to growing seedlings I have had the plants in flower in October and very fine during the winter months, when they are most valuable. I generally make two sowings-one in the first week in April, and the other in the last week in May. The plants from the April-sown seed flower during the autumn and winter months, and those from the May-sown seed during the winter and spring.

I sow the seeds in well-drained pots or pans, using a compost of one part of light friable loam, and two parts leaf mould, with a little sand. I cover the seeds very lightly, place the pans in a little heat, and keep them as near the glass as possible. As soon as the seedlings are large enough they are pricked out into pans or boxes and then put into a little heat; in a short time they will be large enough to be potted-off singly into small pots. The plants from the seed sown in April will be large enough to be potted off singly towards the middle or latter part of May. A cold frame will then suit them very well, keeping it rather close until they begin to grow, when air should be given freely during the day. They must be well attended to in watering, and also in shading in very bright weather; after the 1st of June the lights may be taken off at night if the weather be mild and warm. About the middle of June the plants will require shifting into larger-sized pots, using a compost of about equal parts loam and leaf soil, with a little white sand; when potted the whole of them are placed at the back of a north wall, where they receive a little of the afternoon's sun. I give them no shading, nor any protection whatever, but they are well attended to in watering.

About the beginning of August I shift the plants into the pots in which they are to flower. The plants are left in the same situation until towards the latter part of September if the weather is mild; by that time they will begin to throw up their flower-stems; they are then taken into the houses and placed near the glass, where they have plenty of air, and where they are safe from frost. Some of the most forward plants begin to flower in the latter part of October, and the others bloom in succession during the autumn and winter months. The night temperature is not allowed to fall below 45°.

The plants from the May-sown seed are treated in a somewhat similar way, with the exception that I have some spare lights put over them in hot weather and during thunder showers. I give them their final shift in the latter part of September. When housed they are kept in a little heat, but air is given at all favourable opportunities. If any green fly appear on the plants, they are immediately fumigated with tobacco paper.

It will be seen that I have very little trouble with the plants, and as most of them are used for in-door decorations they are generally thrown away after they are brought out. If the seed has been saved from a good collection of choice kinds (and seedsmen will find it their interest to be particular in attending to this matter, as few people will be satisfied with a lot of worthless seedlings), out of a quantity of plants there will sometimes be a few good varieties -these should not be used for in-doors, but be left to flower in the conservatory or greenhouse. After they have ceased flowering, the flower-stems are cut down

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