^"^%:^^: 



PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TUEE. 



these precautions, tho leading shoot becomes too stroriif for tlie others, it must be cut 

 on a lateral, situated in front, which must be immediately nailed in the proper direc- 

 tion, and dose to the wall. 



175. Seventh Puumxu. — Eifjklh year of planting. This pruning is, in every 

 respect, like the preceding. The main branch a (Fig. 11) is pruned for the seventh 

 time ; the branch b for the sixth ; c for tho fifth ; and d for the fourth time. The 

 secondary branches, e, e, e, are pruned for the second time since their formation was 

 commenced, without counting the prunings on the fruit-branches from which they 

 have originated. By designating all the principal branches by the letters of the 

 alphabet, the whole course of proceeding can be seen at a glance, as the order of the 

 alphabet also shows that of the formation of the branches. Thus, the letter A indi- 

 cates the main branch that was first formed ; whilst the three upper secondary branch- 

 es are marked e, e, e, they being formed the last, and all three at one time. 



176. The management of these three last-named branches is similar. They should 

 always be nailed the first; and should be several times disbudded, and their shoots 

 likewise pinched whenever it is necessary to do so. The essential point is to leave 

 suflicient outlets for the sap, so that it may not open fresh ones by producing over- 

 luxuriant shoots and laterals, which would monopolize an undue share of nourishment 

 and impoverish the lower branches of the tree. The suppressions on the upper 

 branches are made with the intention of checking the sap, so that it may nourish the 

 lower parts of the branches, which, notwithstanding, sometimes remain inactive. We 

 should, however, recollect, that the vegetation of the Peach tree being incessant till 

 the end of October, in ordinary years, it is always possible to remedy disorder by 

 adopting proper means when it appears. 



177. Eighth Pruning. — Ninth year of planting . Conducted during eight years 

 in the way explained, and no accident happening to it, the Peach tree acquires at this 

 pruning the form of a long and regular parallelogram. Fig. 11 represents the prin- 

 cipal branches of a tree planted twelve years. The marks show the number of prun- 

 ings which each branch has received; and the figures indicate the years in which the 

 respective cuts opposite to them were made, reckoning from the second year of plant- 

 ing. Thus, the first cut on the branch e is marked G, denoting that it was made in 

 the year corresponding with that in which the main branch, A, received its sixth 

 winter-pruning. 



The tree covers a surface of about twenty-six feet in length and eight feet in height, 

 and the extremities of the four branches, a, b, c, d, touch the same perpendicular line, 

 whilst those of the three upper secondaries touch the same horizontal line as the ex- 

 tremity of the main branch, a. In other respects, the eighth pruning is the same as 

 the seventh. The fourth upper secondary branch, being formed at a later period, 

 does not exist at the eighth pruning. 



178. The main branches are everywhere regularly furnished with fruit-branches. 

 The tree, complete, as figured in my work, exists in my grounds ; and it may be seen 

 there, together with other thriving specimens which present the same regul 



Peach trees which were fully formed in 1841 are still as regular and vigorous 



