322 THE GARDENER. [July 



Last Ararcli two Peach-lionses were planted with standard and dwarf- 

 trained trees, beaded back until tliey represented something like a man's 

 wrist with hand and fingers spread out, each finger being something like 

 6 to 9 inches long. Four or five shoots were started from each tree, the 

 other buds being rubbed off, and every side-shoot was pinched hard 

 back up to the middle of July, which caused the main shoot to lengthen 

 fast and gross, the houses being kept close and moist at the same time — 

 the intention being, we understood, to head those shoots half-way back 

 at the winter-pruning. But it so happened that there was a change of 

 management after that time. The first thing the new gardener did was 

 to stop all those strong gross main shoots or branches, encouraging the 

 growth of all side-shoots necessary to fill up without crowding : the 

 houses were thrown open night and day. The season being unusually 

 hot in a southern climate, the ventilation and evaporation were rapid, 

 but plenty of river- water being at command, the trees had a liberal supply. 

 The foliage consequently grew very large and green, the wood short- 

 jointed and strong. The result at the end of the season was, that those 

 trees had covered the wire-trellising closely, with a radius 6 to 9 feet 

 from the starting-point — a great deal of that young wood measuring 

 f of an inch in diameter near the base. The winter management was 

 simple enough, — merely the undoing of all ties ; there was no winter- 

 pruning at all, or very little indeed ; none of the shoots were shortened, 

 and the trees were a little regulated and tied up again. 



Xow for results. The trees were studded with strong blossom-buds, 

 but would they behave well on such young trees and on such strong 

 wood ] One of the houses was forced a little, and in the middle of 

 May a heavy crop is swelling a second time. Having set thickly the 

 whole length of the branches from the base to the points, both Peaches 

 and Nectarines sticking like knobs on the J -inch wood, as well as on 

 the twigs, we expect them to carry the crop well to the finish. The 

 trees are making the same vigorous growth, which we shall endeavour 

 to ripen for another year's crop. 



The chief magician in securing those results has been the water- 

 pot, together with a hot sun and abundance of ventilation, and giving 

 the trees liberty to extend in all directions. The question is, whether 

 those trees will go on as they have begun, and by allowing them to 

 extend so rapidly will they get bare near the base 1 They have not 

 been disbudded in the usual way, only to a limited extent ; but where 

 young shoots were not wanted the growth has been pinched to two or 

 three leaves, which will form spurs, and on which we shall also have fruit 

 next year, as well as on the shoots. These spurs also help to maintain 

 the vigour of the trees, and equalise and distribute their strength, and 

 always secure a supply of young wood wherever wanted. Three 

 trees, and ultimately two, will be amply sufificient for a house 60 feet 



