PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 171 



V. Winter Disbudding. 



120. This operation is performed at the same time as the 

 winter-pruning and nailing. Although it is hut little practised at 

 Montreuil, I shall notice it lest it should be supposed that we are 

 ignorant of it. It consists in removing with the fingers the wood 

 or fruit-buds that are considered useless, and of which the growth 

 would be likely to absorb that sap which would prove beneficial to 

 the buds retained. On the wood-branches, the eyes that push 

 before and behind are taken off when it is certain they are useless ; 

 also some of the double or triple eyes that are often found at 

 their extremities, when it is needful to moderate the strength 

 of the branch. On the fruit-branches, those wood-buds are taken 

 off that are likely to prove prejudicial to the one at their base. 

 This operation should not be performed without due reflection, 

 because, if done rashly, thereby destroying too many eyes, it may 

 prove fatal by reason of the frosts, which often come on unex- 

 pectedly. It is always better to have too many than too few 

 eyes. In fact, I do not much approve of winter-disbudding, 

 because the summer-disbudding is an excellent means of regu- 

 lating the growth of the tree with much greater certainty ; for 

 when it is performed, the more advanced state of vegetation 

 enables us better to distinguish the growths which ought to be 

 removed. 



121. The same holds good with regard to removing the eyes 

 from the upper fruit-bearing branches, which, when pushing 

 vigorously, have their bases furnished with several wood-eyes, 

 whilst their flower-buds are situated towards their extremities ; so 

 that in pruning, to have fruit, they must be left long. In such a 

 case, the two eyes nearest the base are retained for successioual 

 shoots ; and in order that their development may not be prevented, 

 the other wood-buds, between the two lower and the flower-buds, 

 are removed at the winter-pruning, or after they have pushed in 

 spring, as I shall hereafter explain. The first proceeding is 

 without any inconvenience in full-grown trees, where the sap 

 does not flow so strongly ; but, in order to make this suppression 

 in young and vigorous trees, it is better to wait till the eyes push 

 young shoots, so that sufficient time for a partial diversion of the 

 sap may be given, thus preventing it from flowing too strongly 

 towards the successioual shoot. 



