]84 PHUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 



pruning. This clone, we proceed to prune the three branches 

 a, b, c (Fig. 11), on each wing, commencing with the uppermost. 



101. The two main-branches, a, a, are pruned thirty-one inches 

 and a half higher up than at the preceding pruning, and on an 

 eye situated on the upper side, and which eye becomes the 

 leading shoot. On the under side there must be an eye at 

 the origin of d, which is intended to form the third lower 

 secondary branch. After having thus operated on the two main 

 brauches, the two secondary ones, c and c, which must now 

 undergo their first pruning, are next attended to. They are 

 pruued at about thirty-one inches and a half from their base, on a 

 bud situated as much as possible in front ; the shoot from it 

 afterwards receives its proper direction by nailing. The branches 

 b and b are next pruned for the second time, and on a bud also 

 placed in front, and thirty-one inches and a half higher up than 

 the preceding pruning. It is necessary to remark, that, in order 

 properly to constitute the lower secondary branches, they must be 

 so pruned that their extremities exceed the perpendicular line 

 supposed to be drawn where the end of the main branch touches 

 when the latter is temporarily bent down with the hand. This 

 excess of length should be greatest for the lowest secondary, and 

 diminish to the highest. I should add, that, when a secondary 

 branch is to be formed, it is always important to make the pruning, 

 on the main branch, exactly at the proper point, where the eye 

 immediately below it, which is to produce the secondary branch, may 

 be placed at the proper distance for giving an equal space between 

 the lower branches. 



lli - ^. Immediately after the pruning is finished, the main 

 branches are brought to a proper position, by bringing down each 

 wing equally, so that the secondary branches may take a right 

 direction. The requisite nailing of all branches is then completed. 



163. As vegetation advances the young shoots are successively 

 nailed, commencing at the upper part of the tree ; for that part 

 has always a tendency to make the strongest growth, and which 

 tendency it is well to counteract by the greater or less amount of 

 constraint that can be imposed by this operation. About the 

 same time, the first disbudding takes place, and is followed by the 

 pinching of all the over-luxuriant young shoots ; and it is 

 generally necessary, for the reasons above stated, to commence 

 likewise these operations on the upper part of the tree. In 

 short, we disbud when needful, and especially two of the shoots 

 from triple buds on the upper sides of the branches ; and all 



