PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 1S3 



159. Very often in trees of this age the vigour is such that 

 nearly all the eyes on the leading shoot break forth; so that, at 

 the time of pruning, laterals only are found on the shoot, espe- 

 cially at the height to which it ought to be shortened. In such 

 a case, choice is made of a lateral situated on the upper side, 

 with another immediately below it on the under side ; and after 

 having cut the principal shoot, the two laterals are pruned each 

 on a wood-bud suitable for prolonging them according to their 

 respective destinations. They are then regulated by nailing. 

 The pruning of the main and secondaiy branches may also be 

 effected either on a latent eye followed by a lateral — that is, 

 having a lateral" immediately below — or on a lateral followed by 

 a wood-bud, according as they are found at the point where the 

 amputation should take place. Disbudding and pinching are 

 still employed according as they are needed. 



160. Third Pruning. — Fourth year of planting. The tree 

 is unnailed, and shows the results of the third year's growth. 

 I begin by examining the comparative state of each wing, so as 

 to act accordingly. Supposing no unfavourable accident has 

 occurred to the tree, I cut down all that are solely wood-shoots 

 to two or three eyes, according to their strength. All the fruit- 

 branches that were pruned the preceding year are cut back to 

 the lowest shoot, or to the successional nearest to the principal 

 branch ; and this successional is itself shortened to two or three 

 eyes, according to its strength when it has no flowers ; and when 

 it has flowers it is pruned to the first wood-bud above the flower- 



Fig. 11. 



buds. The laterals that it may be thought proper to preserve on 

 the leading shoots of the principal branches must be pruned in 

 the same way. and they are thus treated at every subsequent 



