THE PEACH IN THE NORTH. 



similate almost any quantity of sap which is propelled into them, there being nothing to 

 impede their healthy action. I think this may be illustrated in another way; in cold 

 northern climates, the Laplanders will eat whale blubber, and drink train oil, which to 

 our taste is not very palatable; yet we live upon strong and nutritious food, when com- 

 pared to the effeminate Hindoo, who in the warm atmosphere of India, feeds almost ex- 

 clusively on rice. This shows that man requires to be fed in accordance with the climate 

 in which he lives, but this is generall}' acknowledged as regards man and animals, and a 

 little reflection will show it is as strictly true of the vegetable kingdom. I said a tree 

 cannot be "too thrifty" if the wood is properly matured, the tree clean and full of health, 

 with abundance of roots in well prepared ground, near the surface. Do persons object to 

 fruit being over large, if the flavor is of as good quality as those of smaller size.' I think 

 not. Again florists have rules by which they judge what are termed " florist flowers;" 

 after all the various points are stated, the last comes is size, which is generally worded 

 something in this way, " the larger a flower is, provided it possesses all the other good 

 qualities, the better." Now in what way is this large fruit grown? Has Mr. Mills pro- 

 duced his monstrous pine from little plants? The contrary: his plants were large, and 

 would indeed be called thrifty. Are the finest grapes grown produced by weak canes? I 

 think not. Those who have read Mr. Cuthill's articles on market gardening round 

 London, will judge if the growers of monstrous strawberries, know what it is to have 

 their plants too thrifty. I might now pass through florist flowers, and show how strength 

 is concentrated in the plants which produce such perfect blooms. But let us glance a little 

 at the animal kingdom. I have yet to learn if the raisers of that beautiful animal, the 

 horse, object to size, if the animal possesses every other good point. Will the breeders 

 of Short-horned and Hereford cattle object to size, combining with it every other good 

 point? Those who raise the fine Leicester sheep, will, T am sure, be pleased with size, 

 combining with it the other qualities. In the same way I may pass through many more, 

 but the above will illustrate my meaning. When, therefore, I hear of " too thrifty," I 

 understand something like the following: jl rank luxuriant tree, full of sappy plethoric 

 shoots, unripened and incapable of being matured, toith the roots in an undrained, cold 

 or wet soil. But planted in a proper soil, with good after cultivation, so as to have our 

 wood, as it should be, properly matured, we shall know nothing of "too thrifty." At 

 the close of the second autumn, the trees we said would have the appearance of No. 5, and 

 by this time it is evident we have an amount of strength concentrated in the tree and its 

 roots; the latter will be most numerous, strong, healthy, and active. The following spring 

 our tree will once more be headed down to two eyes, to a shoot, as shown in No. 6. As we 

 had last year six shoots we shall now have twelve; 

 as soon as these advance in growth, sufficient to 

 receive a tie, they should be secured to the trellis 

 or whatever it is intended they should be trained 

 to; on starting in the past year, I noticed the 



great amount of care necessary for the preserva- _ 



tion of the shoots, lest the symmetry may be de- — -^-^•^•'/'f'^/iYj V^~~ 



stroyed, and more imperatively necessary is care No. 6— Headed dotvn in spring of third year. 

 and vigilance now; the loss of a shoot is now irreparable, and no after skill or judgment 

 can properly supply its place. When the shoots have attained from 15 to 18 inches in 

 length, let the extreme points of all be stopped as shown in No. 7, B. B. This and all 

 subsequent stoppings must be performed on the soft watery points of the shoots; they 

 will then break as freely as though they had not been stopped at all, whereas if the shoots 



