THE NOBLESSE PEACH.

The Double Montagne, and the Double Swalsh, so closely resemble this Peach, that they are scarcely distinguishable from it; but the Double Montagne is said not to succeed upon the same variety of plum stock. Neither of these three varieties are mentioned by the French Naturalist DU HAMEL; nor are they enumerated, under those names, by any of the modern French writers on the subject, in their Catalogues of Peaches. Tree free in its growth, and a great bearer. Bud round and full. Blossom very large, expanded, of a bright rose, or pink colour, early. Leaf generally about six inches long and two broad, of a lightish green, deeply serrated. Fruit generally round and large; though sometimes a little elongated, with a very small nipple at the end of it; beautifully marbled with red and dull purple, when much exposed to the sun: flesh quite white, with some very faint yellowish shades in it; white at the stone; very sweet and melting, but, perhaps, less vinous than some other Peaches; the skin strips off from the flesh very easily; ripens well, early in August; apt to be rather woolly when too ripe; owing to the thinness of the skin, it is, in very hot weather, subject to blisters or blotches. Stone short in proportion to the fruit, round, and very prominent transversely, of a lightish brown, rough, separates very readily from the flesh, with a few ragged filaments attached to it; not subject to split in the fruit, as the stones of some varieties are. An excellent forcer *. Aspect either south, east, or west; but an inclination from the south to the east suits best with this, and, perhaps, all other Peaches and Nectarines. A light loom, well mixed with rotten dung, which has lain long, and been turned often, is the best soil for it. Propagation, best budded on the Mussell Plumb stock; in which case the stem of the Peach and the parent stock increase in a like proportion, which is not the case when worked on the Pear Plumb, where the lower part of the tree is often of a less diameter than the upper part; the appearance of which is not pleasing; besides, trees so constituted are said to be generally of short duration.

The drawing was taken from a remarkably fine specimen, communicated by Mr. PADLEY, from the Royal Garden at Hampton

Court.

* It is said to be, in some soils and situations, a little subject to become mildewed; but its vigorous growth generally enables it to overcome this disease, which is so hurtful to the Red Magdalen Peach, and to all the Minions.