N36 PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 



Particular care must be taken at the summer-pruning to cut off 

 all the snags, wherever they are found; because healing over is 

 more readily effected at that than at any other period. 



160. Ftfth Pruning. — Sixth year of planting. The opera- 

 tions of the fifth pruning are exactly the same as those of the 

 fourth. The extremities of the four branches a, b, c, d are pruned 

 to an equal length, and in proportion to their growth. We must 

 carefully watch all the shoots on the upper sides of the branches, 

 especially those on the two main branches, where the sap produces 

 the strongest shoots, and which must be controlled ; but the sup- 

 pressions ought not to be too considerable, because the sap must 

 be employed, lest its superabundance should cause disorder. We 

 must endeavour to replace too vigorous shoots by the young ones 

 that spring from their bases, or occasionally by a lateral; so that 

 vegetation may still go on, but under circumstances that may 

 admit of the growth being so regulated, by pinching, as to 

 prevent over-luxuriance. Besides, much trouble may be avoided 

 by lengthening the pruning, and restraining the vegetation, by 

 nailing close to the wall. 



170. At the time of the second disbudding, I choose, on the 

 upper side of the main branch, three fruit-branches which have 

 already received one or more prunings. The three branches should 

 be at equal distances, of the thickness of a quill, and, respectively, 

 originating lower down the main branch than where each of the 

 lower secondary branches takes its rise. 



From these three branches, which are intended to become the 

 three upper secondary branches, e, e, e, I take off all the useless 

 young shoots situated in front and behind ; and I make choice of 

 one for a leader which, without being too vigorous, appears well 

 conditioned. I winter-prune it to a wood-bud, arid nail it some- 

 what more upright than the other fruit-branches, and so close to 

 the wall that its growth may be moderate, aud any disposition to 

 the contrary must be checked. 



171. This preparation for establishing the three upper branches, 

 e, e, E, is not made till the following year in trees which have 

 made only weak shoots, and in those of which the lower branches 

 do not appear sufficiently strong; but then the tree is not com- 

 pletely formed when eight years old. 



172. Sixth Pruning.— Seventh year of planting. It will be 

 perceived, by referring to Fig. 11, that the main branch, a, bears 

 three branches, e, e, e, on its upper side, which are much more 

 developed than any of the other productions on that side. These 



