/or January, 1921 



431 



The disbudding consists in removing- entirely tlie eyes 

 situated between tlie one at the tip of a fruiting branch 

 and the two of its base in order to force these to develop 

 so as to obtain replacing Inids. 



After the disbudding of a peach tree there remains a 

 bud at the extremit\- of each branch, two at its base and 

 some others spaced at from 10 to 15 centimeters upon the 

 intervening part. To lessen the vigor of too strong 

 growth and in order to bring the growing efifort into the 

 more feeble the branch is pinched, that is to say, its soft 

 tip is cut with the finger nails in order temporarily 

 to arrest its growth and to favor the ripening of the 

 wood. At Alontreuil, however, many owners do not 

 pinch their peach trees, vegetation being not vigorous 

 there. 



In compensation they pale them up, in the drv and 

 in the green, that is to say they fasten the young branches 

 of the tree with the aid of bands upon a trellis, or by 

 means of strips of cloth upon the wall. They arrange 

 the fruiting branches symmetrically according to the 

 ramifications of the main branches, like the bones of a 

 fish around its vertebral cohuun. 



The paling up in the dry is performed in IMarch and 

 April, immediately after the Winter pruning, and once 

 only, while the paling up in the green is done several 

 times in the course of June and July. Ordinarily the 

 paling up is begun at the tips of the branches of the tree 

 that are the most vigorous, and ten or twelve davs later 

 the retarded branches are attached. The paling up slack- 

 ens the force of vegetation and furthers the formation 

 of the flower buds. 



Besides, one proceeds again, in the course of the Sum- 

 mer growth, to suppress the useless branches ; this opera- 

 tion, called pruning in the green, is practiced from June 

 to .August when the replacing branches do not grow fast 

 enough or when a fruiting twig does not bear peaches. 

 Then the fruiting branch is cut above the replacing buds 

 spared at its base. If the buds upon a fruiting liranch 

 fall before maturity, jiruning in the green is likewise 

 practiced. 



Pruning, disbudding, pinching or paling up have as 

 their end the control of the tree in view of the future 

 harvests. But it is good also to remove a part of the 

 fruits, for their excessive abundance is detrimental to 

 both their beauty and their quality. It is necessaty then 

 to thin out, upon two or three different occasions, by pre- 

 serving one or two peaches in a cluster ; that is to say, at 

 intervals of about ten or twelve meters along the main 

 branch. The first thinning takes place in May, and nearly 

 at the same time as the disbudding. First are cut off the 

 fruits poorly placed, for example, those back against the 

 wall, or those hanging at the ends of branches that are 

 puny. Every discreet horticulturalist ought to show him- 

 self ])rudent in the first thinning and leave three or four 

 peaches in a cluster, for at the time of the hardening of 

 the pit many of the fruits fall naturally. One waits for 

 the end of this critical period before proceeding to the 

 second thinning. In addition, when <i subject appears to 

 be too vigorous, the peaches are removed from the branch 

 of which the replacing bud is develo])ing ])oorly, and one 

 visits again all the espaliers, during the ripening, to re- 

 move the damaged fruits. 



Moreover, in order that tlie jieach m;iy take on the 

 radiant colors familiar to everybody one removes the 

 leaves covering it while preser\Mng their petioles for fear 

 of destroying the eyes coming out in the axis. The first 

 defoliating takes place a fortnight before the maturing 

 of the fruit and the fruit is uncovered little by little by 

 beginning with removing the leaves that shield it at the 

 side. One has to spare the two upper leaves that may 

 continue to afford shade until a second defoliating five or 



SIX days later. At that time one cuts in two the midrib 

 of the leaves originally preserved and finally, four or five 

 days before gathering, the third removing of leaves takes 

 place. This time one removes entirely the leaves already 

 cut save the petiole, which remains upon the peach. No- 

 tice particularly, however, that these last operations ought 

 not be begun except at the moment when the peaches 

 have attained their complete development: otherwise their 

 growth ceases. Practice and experience alone permit 

 one to determine the precise moment for defoliating. 



In the meantime, to keep grubs, bugs and other little 

 creatures away, the horticulturalists of Alontreuil bathe 

 the trunks with nicotine and dust Ivsol over the entire 

 espalier. 



At last there comes the time of the harvesting. The 

 trees are laden with fruits mellow and exquisite. One 

 must proceed to the gathering of them, which ought to 

 take place after ten o'clock in the morning and above all 

 when the sun is no longer shining upon the walls. The 

 man takes the peach within his five fingers, then, holding 

 it in his hand, by a gentle twisting movement upon its 

 stem, he detaches it from the branc'h. Next he places it 

 delicately in the bottom of a basket provided with moss. 

 Lastly he brushes the peaches, after they have been gath- 

 ered, in order to remove the excess of whitish bloom. 

 The gormands of the two worlds can then regale them- 

 selves with them. 



L 



WINTER PROTECTION 



AST \\'inter took a large toll of evergreens, trees, 

 shrubs and plants in many sections of the country! 



Immense damage also was done among shrubberv 

 and trees by rabbits and field mice gnawing oft" the bark at 

 the surface of the snow. 



ft is to be hoped that this Winter will not be a repetition 

 of the past one. at the same time it is well to be prepared 

 as much valuable stock can be saved by forethought. 



The large evergreens and trees of course will largely 

 have to take their chance as it is not practical to give 

 theni much protection, but it is a good time to renew 

 consideration of the planting of w^indbreaks, and resolve 

 again to plant them next Spring. 



Perhaps it will be even possible and worth while to 

 build a temporary windbreak to protect some choice lot 

 of plants that are in danger of injury. 



The damage is usually done in la'te Winter and early 

 S]M-ing so such work can be left until cold weather has 

 actually set in and things are not so rushed. Experience 

 will have tau.ght where a little protection will do the most 

 good. Many claim the damage is done by the sun shining 

 on the plants when they are frozen but plants protected 

 from the dry frosty winds are seldom hurt by the sun, 

 jjerhaps it is a combination of both. 



In the case of seedlings and plants in frames that are 

 given a protective nuilch it is well to remember that the 

 mulch also forms a harbor for field mice and other ver- 

 min that are as likely to do as much damage as the 

 weather. 



I'ul the nudch on after the ground is frozen and put 

 poisoned corn or take other steps to destroy the vermin 

 before they destroy the plants. — Excliangc. 



Finish each day and be done with it. You have done 

 what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt 

 crept in ; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is 

 a new day; begin it well and serenely; and with too high 

 a s])irit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. — Emer- 

 son. 



