490 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



ing a too strong and probably unhealthy shoot, while all, or nearly all, 

 the back buds would remain dormant, thus causing the tree to form its 

 growths far from home, the inevitable result of which would be the 

 leaving of the tree bare of young wood and foliage save at the extre- 

 mities. Now by pruning as I propose this is avoided, and a well-fur- 

 nished tree is the consequence. In the case of an old tree it is very 

 different. When a Peach or Nectarine tree has arrived at a certain 

 age it generally ceases to a great extent to produce what are usually 

 known as gross watery shoots. At this age it also begins to produce 

 its young wood and fruit more regularly all over the tree; the fruit- 

 buds often predominate over the wood-buds to such an extent that 

 sometimes the whole shoot is clothed by them except the point bud 

 and a few others down near the base of the branch. Where the tree 

 has arrived at this stage of its existence there should be no pointing 

 of the shoots, as all the wood-buds produced will be necessary to bring 

 forward and perfect the crop. Besides all this, it is sometimes 

 the case that old trees drop a great many of their buds during the 

 period of rest ; but in no case have I ever known the point 

 bud to fall ; so that should all, or nearly all, the wood- buds fall 

 save this one at the point, it should be left so that it may carry the 

 fruit through to the period of ripening. As already stated, both of 

 these methods may in practice be correct, but I have indicated to the 

 best of my ability the circumstances under which each of them may 

 be followed with the greatest safety. 



The next point for consideration is the protection of the blossoms 

 from the effects of frost. As the Peach and Nectarine produce their 

 exj)anded flowers early in the season, and before the leaves of the trees 

 are sufficiently developed to afford them, any natural protection, it is 

 absolutely necessary that some artificial means be adopted to insure 

 their safety. This will be all the more obvious when we consider that 

 the Peach is a native of such a genial climate as Persia. It is 

 therefore necessary that some sort of protection be obtained, and I 

 know of nothing better suited for the purpose than the woollen net- 

 ting already recommended when speaking of the protection of the 

 Apricot, at page 349 of the present volume. For full particulars re- 

 garding it, and the manner of its application, I must refer the reader 

 to that article. Much of the success of Peach and Nectarine culture 

 depends upon proper attention to this important matter. Not only is 

 protection necessary for the blossoms, but the young leaves and shoots 

 so often suffer from late spring frosts that it is as necessary for them 

 as for the flowers. The woollen netting should be allowed to remain 

 for the protection of the trees till the middle of May. Progressing 

 with the season, the next thing requiring notice is the thinning of the 



