constant. The grand distinction is certainly in the fruit, which is smaller and rounder, with a firmer pulp and a smoother skin. It derives its classical name from the rich, racy, and nectareous flavour of its juice, which, in its highest perfection, renders it the most delicious of all European fruits, and, perhaps, surpasses that of the boasted products of hotter climes. The best sorts of nectarine are those called the Newington and the Roman. The first is a fine large fruit, of a beautiful red colour towards the sun, and of a bright yellow towards the wall; the juice is very rich; the pulp adheres closely to the stone, where it is very red; and the fruit ripens at the end of August or beginning of September. The Roman red nectarine has a deep red or purple colour towards the sun, but next the wall has a yellowish cast; the pulp is firm, adheres closely to the stone, and ripens in September. It requires a very close attention to distinguish the trees which bear the different varieties of this exquisite fruit. The same sort of trees, planted in different soils and situations, often alter their fruit so much as to deceive the best judges.-See

PEACH TREE (amygdalus persica).-This, in its natural state, is a small tree, with spreading branches. It grows rapidly, but is not a long liver. There are many varieties of the fruit for which the peach tree is principally cultivated; but the trees themselves are valuable in another respect, for there are few that are more ornamental for plantations, shrubberies, and wilderness quarters, especially when placed in view of the mansion house, and in sheltered situations, where they will display their beautiful blossoms about the beginning of April, when flowers, especially upon trees, are peculiarly valuable. The variety with double flowers is the most elegant of all the ornamental trees; at least, with the exception of the almond tree, it is the most beautiful flowering tree that will live in the open air of our variable cli

mate. Its blossoms appear about three weeks later than those of the common peach, and are generally followed by some fruit, which it must be confessed is not of any value, except where the trees have been trained against sunny walls.

The most valuable kinds of peach trees are the following:-The early purple peach, the fruit of which is large, round, and externally of a fine red colour; the flesh is white, but very red at the stone. It is particularly esteemed for being full of a rich vinous-flavoured juice. The next sort we shall notice is the large or French mignon (grosse mignonne), the fruit of which is rather egg-shaped, only often swelling on one side. It has a fine external colour, a sugary juice, and a very small stone. As it ripens in the middle of August, and separates from the stone, it is allowed to be one of the finest peaches. The best method of treating this tree is to bud it into some old healthy apricot, planted in a south east aspect, and to cut away the apricot when the buds have taken and produced shoots. The belle chevreuse is an excellent bearer; the fruit is red, the flesh white, but red at the stone, from which it separates: it is very full of a rich sugary juice, and ripens at the end of August. The Chancellor has a white melting flesh, which separates from the stone, where it is of a fine red colour; the skin is thin and the juice very rich: it ripens about the end of August, and should be budded on an apricot like the mignon, as it thrives better under that treatment than upon common stocks. These are the sorts most worthy of cultivation; though in very warm situations the Catharine peach should be introduced, as it is an excellent fruit in hot summers.

An eminent gardener describes a good peach as follows: the flesh should be firm, the skin thin, next the sun of a bright red colour, and of a yellowish cast next the wall; the pulp should be very thick, yellowish, and full of high-flavoured juice. This fruit

is known to be grateful and wholesome, seldom disagreeing with a healthy stomach, except when eaten to excess. The flowers are used for medicinal purposes; they have an agreeable weak smell and a bitterish taste; they are made into a syrup, which is given as an opening medicine to children, principally to destroy worms. Care, however, should be taken not to confound the flowers of those peach trees which have been grafted on the plum, with those raised from almond stocks. The former are more decidedly cathartic, and the latter lose all their aperient qualities by being grafted on the almond tree, which is a species of the same genus as the peach. It is true the almond tree in England produces no fruit of any consequence; yet it is not only valuable for the above purpose, but also as an ornamental tree in clumps and shrubberies, where it exhibits its delicate red-purple bloom in the month of March, when few other trees have either leaves or flowers. An almond tree thus covered with blossoms is one of the most elegant objects in nature.

JULY.

THIS word is derived from the Latin Julius, the surname of C. Cæsar, the dictator, who was born in it. Mark Anthony first gave to this month the name of July, which was before called Quintilis, as being the fifth month in the year, in the old Roman calendar established by Romulus. July was called by the Saxons heu-monat, or hey-monat, because therein they usually mowed, and made their hay-harvest.

Remarkable Days

In JULY 1819.

*1. 1818.-SIR THOMAS-BERNARD died, Well known for his zealous labours and writings in behalf of public charities, and other useful institu

tions; as well as for his conduct of the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor, the Reports of which he published annually.

2.

VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. This festival was first instituted by Pope Urban VI, in commemoration of that remarkable journey which the Mother of our Lord took into the mountains of Judæa, in order to visit the mother of St. John the Baptist. It was afterwards confirmed, not only by a decree of Pope Boniface IX, but by the council of Basil, in 1441.

3.-DOG-DAYS BEGIN.

These are a certain number of days before and after the heliacal rising of Canicula, or the dog-star, in the morning. The dog-days in our modern Almanacks occupy the time from July 3d to August 11th; the name being applied now, as it was formerly, to the hottest time of the year.

4. TRANSLATION OF ST. MARTIN.

This day was appointed to commemorate the removal or translation of St. Martin's body from one tomb to another much more noble and magnificent; an honour conferred upon the deceased saint by Perpetuus, one of his successors in the see of Tours. His festival is celebrated on the 11th of November, which see.

7.-THOMAS A BECKET.

This haughty prelate was born in London, in the year 1119, and was the son of Gilbert, a merchant, and Matilda, a Saracen lady, who is said to have fallen in love with him when he was a prisoner to her father in Jerusalem. Thomas received the first part of his education at Merton Abbey in Surrey, whence he went to Oxford, and afterwards studied at Paris. In 1159, he made a campaign with King Henry to Toulouse, having in his own pay 1200 horse, besides a retinue of 700 knights or gentlemen.

For further particulars respecting Becket we refer

to T.T. for 1814, pp. 166-172, and T.T. for 1815, p. 220.

*7.-CAMBRIDGE COMMENCEMENT.

.

At this period the Doctors, Masters of Arts, and others commence their degrees. This is a grand public time at that University, and is often attended by much company. The annual prizes are then recited in the Senate-House, and oratorios and concerts sometimes performed. The new. Chancellor is also installed at this time. The last installation took place in 1811, when H. R. H. the Duke of Gloucester exhibited the gratifying sight of a Prince anxious not to obtain extensive empire and military fame, but to preside over a learned body.

The period corresponding with Cambridge commencement at the sister University, and which is there held with great solemnity, is called the Oxford Act.

*10. 1212.-FIRE AT LONDON BRIDGE,

Which, by a singular though most disastrous dispensation, occurring at both ends of the structure, then covered with houses, caused the death of more than 3000 persons.

*13. 1793.-MARAT ASSASSINATED

By Charlotte Cordé; who, with exalted though mistaken heroism, when led to execution, exclaimed, ""Tis guilt makes shame, and not the scaffold!"

15. SAINT SWITHIN.

Swithin, in the Saxon Swithum, received his clerical tonsure, and put on the monastic habit, in the old monastery at Winchester. He was of noble parentage, and passed his youth in the study of grammar, philosophy, and the scriptures. Swithin was promoted to holy orders by Helmstan, Bishop of Winchester, at whose death, in 852, King Ethelwolf granted him the see. In this he continued eleven years, and died in 868. For some remarks on the popular saying respecting St. Swithin, see our former volumes.