PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 



186. 3il, — 111 carrying successively tbe depression of the main branch, a, to its 

 utmost limit, its length relatively to the extremities of the three lower secondaries 

 must, however, be maintained. This extreme lowering of the main branch, which 

 thus ceases to divide the wing into two equal parts, still more increases the distance 

 from each other of the upper branches, e, on each wing ; and there would be a great 

 space left between them if a fourth upper secondary (f,) were not formed. 



It is obtained, as stated at 170, by the prolongation of a fruit-branch chosen at the 

 base of each of the two innermost branches e. 



This method is preferable to the second (185), but it should only be employed on 

 trees that are very vigorous, especially in their lower parts ; and in those in which a 

 greater number of outlets for the sap can be afforded. 



187. The pruning of the upper branches, e, e, e, consists in cutting each of them 

 back every year, at the winter-pruning, on a fruit-branch, the shoot from the terminal 

 bud of which replaces the extremity of the branch. This shoot is nailed as closely to 

 the wall as possible, in order to restrain its growth. If this branch be shortened to 

 a wood-bud, care must be taken to nail it as soon as it is sufficiently developed to 

 admit of its being fastened. The extremities of the three upper branches should, 

 after the winter-pruning, be at the distance of eight or ten inches from the coping. 



188. Notwithstanding the constraint imposed on these upper extremities, they soon 

 begin to grow rapidly ; and we must take care, first to pinch them, afterwards to cut 

 them down on the lowest lateral which the pinching produces ; and, lastly, whenever 

 one of them approaches too near the coping it is cut down at a summer-pruning on 

 a lower shoot, or on a very slender branch of old wood, which is nailed in as soon as 

 possible, and which becomes a new terminal. Attention to these shortenings is re- 

 quired during the time vegetation is going on ; nevertheless if they prove ineffectual, 

 and the branch gain the ascendant, it must be cut down at the following winter- 

 pruning to a small fruit-branch, situated at its base (IVO), which is pruned and nailed 

 as there directed. It is of course understood that disbudding and pinching are per- 

 formed on the shoots of these upper branches, and that they should all be nailed as 

 soon as it is possible to lay them in. They are pinched when necessary, and summer- 

 pruning is employed for dispensing with the crowd of laterals which results from the 

 pinching, cutting them off to the lowest lateral. All these precautions are necessary 

 for producing and maintaining a supply of fruit-bearing branches on the three upper 

 secondaries, e, e, e, of each wing. 



The omission of these operations is often the cause of gaps in Peach trees. The 

 treatment of the upper secondary branches is the same throughout the life of the 

 tree. Lastly, — As repetitions must be made in order to draw the attention of the 

 reader to the fundamental principles of the pruning of the Peach tree, I will conclude 

 by stating that its success depends on the care of the cultivator: — 



189. 1st, — To form well-nourished main branches, a, a, each tapering from its base 

 top without inequalities even at the place where pruned. This result is obtained 



training: and nailincc. 



F 2 



