

W2 rnmnxo and management of the rEAcn teee. 



trees, but also with respect to those that have been already established, under wliat- 

 ever mode of training they may have been eondueted. 



1. The Peaeh tree, planted under favorable circumstances, shoots vigorously, and 

 its vegetation is very active from tlie first fine days in spring till about the middle of 

 October. Such are its vegetative powers, that, during this time, it is continually 

 making fresh shoots which require a constant and judicious superintendence, if we 

 wish to manage properly, and this greatly depends on stopping in time those growths 

 which are not likely to suit our purpose. 



2. As soon as the genial influence of spring is felt, the buds swell, and very soon 

 the flowers come out ; while the leaves, more backward, are yet within their envelopes. 

 Afterward the leaf-buds open their scales, and the shoots burst forth, to become, the 

 following year, branches of greater or less length. 



3. From May to August the leaves, coming successively to maturity, acquire a more 

 compact structure, and consequently absorb less sap. This, continuing to flow, seeks 

 fresh outlets, and produces, at the axil of the leaves, buds which remain as such, or 

 break into laterals, according to the time of their formation, the continuance of fine 

 weather, and the vigor of the tree. 



4. These new productions, all formed in the course of the growing season, are easily 

 seen at the fall of the leaf. They are the source from which our hopes of future crops 

 arise ; and as it is necessary to know them well, I therefore proceed to explain them 

 in detail. 



5. A. Eyes or Buds. — These are envelopes containing the rudiments of shoots, 

 leaves, flowers, and fruit. They are conical, and covered with little imbricated scales, 

 more or less coriaceous, and which are merely abortive leaves dried by the air, so as 

 to protect the tender parts which they enclose from the severities of the winter. 

 They continue in this state as long as the flow of the sap is arrested by the cold ; and 

 they commence growing when the weather becomes sufiiciently warm to put the sap 

 in motion. 



C. If the eye does not receive proper nourishment it may remain a long time 

 inactive ; it is then called a latent hud (ceil expectant). It is generally roused from 

 this dormant state by pruning, performed with the view of calling it into action ; or 

 naturally, by an increased flow of sap which acts as a stimulus to it ; otherwise, it may 

 become completely extinct. 



7. Buds become either ivood-huds, or fniit-huds ; and it is important for the opera- 

 tions of pruning to distinguish well these two conditions. I may, however, remark, 

 that with reference to the Peach tree, the nature of the bud is never doubtful to an 

 experienced person. In fact, its form, its place, the age of the wood on which it 

 appears, all help to show the function which it is destined to perform ; but for those 

 little acquainted with this tree, it is necessary to enter more into detail. 



8. The wood-hud (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a) is an embryo shoot, covered with imbricated 

 scales of a reddish-brown. Its form is usually that of a little cone, more or less 

 pointed ; when in the axil of a leaf, it is always slightly compressed. The wood 

 which is also called at Montreuil o??7 de jwusse (pushing-eye), comes on all parts 



