TEUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 



extraordinary bend imposed on its lower parts, by this mode of nailing, compresses 

 strongly the woody fibres of the base, and stretches the bark on the outside of the 

 curve. The sap attempting to efiect a passage through its proper vessels, which are 

 now closely sqeezed together, often breaks through the bark and pushes the eye de- 

 sired. This proceeding is, however, only applicable to branches one or two years old. 



94. It is not absolutely necessary to wait till the usual time of pruning to cut back 

 to their successional shoots those branches retained as fruiting-branches at the winter- 

 pruning. There is always an advantage in doing so whenever we can, excepting when 

 the successional is growing too vigorously, notwithstanding our endeavors to check it 

 by close nailing and pinching off. During the summer-pruning, if we have time, we 

 cut of all the branches on which the fruit has not set permanently ; and, in general, 

 it is well, after the fall of the leaves, to cut out all the useless wood ; this leaves so 

 much less to be done at the regular winter-pruning. By cutting off at this time the 

 greater part of the branches that have borne fiuit, we strengthen their successional 

 shoots, and render available for the latter the portion of sap which the parts cut off 

 would have appropriated : and there is always an advantage in not allowing the tree 

 to nourish useless productions. This attention is especially necessary for the weaker 

 branches. Unfortunately, the cultivators and gardeners who have large gardens under 

 their charge are, on account of their many occupations, unable to perform these va- 

 rious operations, which, although useful, are not absolutely indispensable. 



95. Fourth Sort. — Fruit-branches, the Buds of which corisist of four or more 

 Flower-buds. It is called at Montreuil, cochonnet or bouquet de mai (Figs. 4, 5.) 

 This sort of fruit-branch, or spur, being only one and a qu^arter to three inches in 

 length, and most frequently forming a cluster (Fig. 5,) with a single pushing eye in 

 the midst, which suffices for drawing nourishment to the fruits, ought not therefore to 

 be shortened. It is preserved, wherever it may be, in order to produce fruit. As it 

 forms almost exclusively on the old wood, we often find it in front of the principal 

 branches ; and when thus situated, it must necessarily be cut off after the fruit is 

 gathered. With regard to those on the sides, they are then pruned to the lowest 

 wood-bud ; if there be none formed, and that the spur may still be useful, it is pruned 

 to the wood-bud formed on the last summer's shoot pushed by the terminal eye. We 

 must endeavor, as much as possible, to retain one or two flowers beneath this pruning. 

 As soon as the operation is performed, the branch is nailed, as was said at 93 ; and 

 sometimes a wood-bud, capable of replacing it at the following pruning, is produced 

 at its base. When they have eyes at their bases they are properly constituted, and 

 are pruned as directed at 89, 



90. Although I have hitherto, in conformity with the old belief, directed tlie fruit- 

 branches always to be pruned on a wood-bud which was judged necessary to preserve 

 a good state of vegetation, yet I am now able to atlirm that a terminal wood-bud is 

 not absolutely necessary for the growth and maturity of the fruit. Whence it follows, 

 that under certain circumstances, such as the necessity of prolonging a fruit-branch 

 great length, in order to obtain a wood-bud, which after all is too liigh up, I 



