166 PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 



according to circumstances. Sometimes we even bring the weak 

 side forward from four to eight inches from the wall, supporting 

 it by props placed for that purpose ; and when the equilibrium is 

 restored, it is put back in its place. This method must only be 

 adopted when there is no longer any fear of frost. 



101. Again, in training the branches of the Peach-tree, we 

 can fasten the weak part more vertically and the strong more 

 horizontally. The sap consequently flows with greater force 

 into the former, and the balance is restored. These two means 

 may be employed at the same time on young trees ; but in those 

 which have attained their full growth, it frequently happens that 

 we cannot bring the strong part any lower, and in that case our 

 only resource is to train the weak part more upright. The use 

 of these various modes ought to cease as soon as a more even 

 distribution of the sap has rendered the respective parts equal. 



102. In order to facilitate the operation of training, and to give 

 it the desired regularity, we fix guides on the wall, or trellis, so 

 as to regulate thereby the position of the principal branches. 

 These guides are taken away when the formation is complete, 

 and the branches are then maintained in the place assigned to 

 them. 



IV. Nailing. 



103. The nailing consists in fastening all the branches of a 

 Peach-tree, whatever their nature may be, in the place most 

 suitable to them. The regulation or training of the principal 

 branches, which has just been treated on (99), is, properly 

 speaking, the nailing of them. 



104. But nailing, as I understand it, is chiefly applicable to the 

 fruit-branches, and to the shoots as soon as their growth requires 

 it. It will thus be perceived that we may carry on the nailing of 

 the tree throughout the whole course of its existence ; neverthe- 

 less there are two periods of the year more especially devoted to 

 this operation — namely, when the tree is without foliage, and 

 when it is furnished with leaves. Hence the operation is dis- 

 tinguished as winter-nailing and summer-nailing. 



105. At Montreuil, woollen shreds and nails are used in 

 training and nailing. These shreds surround the part to be 

 fastened without becoming so tight as to cause strangulation. For 

 this reason, neither linen nor cotton rags are employed, as they 

 contract or expand according to the quantity of moisture they 

 absorb : and because, from their not allowing the nails to pierce 



