iS73-] PEACH CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 309 



PEACH CUIiTURE UNDER GLASS. 



DISBUDDING OR SUMMER PRUNING. 



What is known by the term disbudding the Peach, consists in the 

 removal of all the buds while in a small state that are not required to 

 grow into shoots, to furnish wood bearing fruit for the following year. 

 This operation should be begun early, as soon as the buds have 

 started. They should not all be removed at once, but at three dif- 

 ferent intervals of time. At the first disbudding remove those which 

 are termed by gardeners fore-right buds — that is, those that are on the 

 front side of the shoots and that would grow at a right angle from the 

 trellis — and those which are situated on the opposite side of the shoot, 

 thus leaving those that are right and left. In about twelve or four- 

 teen days after this, about the half of those left should be removed at 

 intervals along the shoot, always leaving the best-looking two buds 

 near the base. The trees should be examined, and finally disbudded 

 in about a week after removing all except the most promising bud 

 near the base, which is to form the chief growth for next year's fruit- 

 ing ; on short stubby growths, this bottom bud and the terminal one 

 will be enough to leave. On longer shoots, one or two intermediate 

 ones may be left if there is room enough to tie them in without crowd- 

 ing the tree. But always give the preference to the lowest-placed 

 buds. 



In removing the last of the superfluous buds, when they have got 

 stronger than those taken off at the first and second disbuddings, a 

 thin sharp knife should be used, as it makes a less and cleaner wound 

 than when they are detached by the hand. The leading shoot, if not 

 required to furnish the tree as in the case of young trees, should be 

 stopped when it has grow^n 1 foot ; but allow the lateral growths for 

 next year's fruiting to grow their full length, and keep them regularly 

 tied to the trellis as they grow — using for this purpose soft matting, 

 taking care not to tie too tightly, but leaving room sufficient for the 

 wood to swell. 



The common error of tying in too many young growths should be 

 avoided, as one of the greatest errors in Peach culture. It crowds 

 the tree with wood that is not required, and prevents the sun and air 

 from acting properly on the foliage, and the result is weak, unripened, 

 and unfruitful wood. Whenever any given growth shows that it is 

 going to be much stronger than the rest, it should either be cut 

 out altogether, or stopped, and restopped if necessary, to prevent its 

 monopolising the sap that should go to the other parts of the tree. 



After the fruit are all gathered, look carefully over the trees and 

 untie and cut out at once those shoots from which the fruit have been 



