PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACO TREE. 



at the uj>per part of th(3 tree; for that part has always a tendency to make tlie 

 stroucest e^rowth, anil which tendency it is well to counteract by the greater or less 

 amount of constraint that can be imposed by this operation. About the same time, 

 the first disbudding takes place, and is followed by the pinching of all the over- 

 luxuriant young shoots ; and it is generally necessary, for the reasons above stated, 

 to commence likewise these operations on the upper part of the tree. In short, we 

 disbud -when needful, and especially two of the shoots from triple buds on the upper 

 sides of the branches ; and all suppressions are made that the flow of the sap may 

 render necessary for regulating and completing the intentions of the operations of 

 ■winter-pruning. 



164. Fourth Prunikg. — Fifth year of i)lanling. In our cultures at Montreuil, 

 owing to the height the tree has attained, and the lowness of the walls, the formation 

 of the lower secondary branches is now complete ; but when the walls are high, a 

 fourth lower secondary may be formed at this pruning, proceeding in the same way as 

 for the other three which compose the frame-work of our trees. I will not treat fur- 

 ther on this fourth branch, which seldom exists in our gardens, as I only wish to make 

 known my own practice in conducting the square-trained Peach tree. 



165. Fig. 11 (a, b, c, d,) represents the principal branches of the tree at this stage. 

 After having examined, from top to bottom, the shoots and fruit-branches along the 

 principal ones, and having pruned them as was done in the previous year, the pruning 

 of the wood-branches is next to be considered. 



160. The main branch, A, is brought down to the point it should occupy after nail- 

 ing, in order to judge better where each secondary branch should extend. The branch 

 A is now pruned for the fourth time, the branch d for the first time, the branch c for 

 the second time, and the branch b for the third time ; each of them to its proper 

 relative height. As the formation of a secondary branch is no longer required, the 

 branch A is pruned to a bud situated either on the upper or under side, or in front of 

 the branch, according as it may happen to be at the most suitable distance. 



167. Sometimes I do not find eyes on the principal branches sufficiently well placed 

 at the winter-pruning. In that case I leave a portion of the shoot beyond the eye 

 intended to produce the leading shoot, when that eye is situated lower down than the 

 one on the corresponding branch, in order that after nailing no diflference may be per- 

 ceived. AVhen the eye above which I have left this piece of branch begins to grow, 

 I cut back to it, and I attend to the growth of the two relative extremities in order 

 that they may become of equal length. 



168. After having trained and winter-nailed the tree, lowering at the same time its 

 four branches towards the position which they should finally occupy, vegetation soon 

 commences ; and during its course we must disbud, pinch, nail, disbud a second time, 

 and use summer-pruning, according as these operations are required ; performing all 

 with the view to the equal distribution of sap. Particular care must be taken at the 

 summer -pruning, to cut off all the snags, wherever they are found ; because healing 



is more readily eflfected at that than at any other period. 



(7b he continued.) 



