PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE. 187 



three branches are the ones preserved at the disbudding of the 

 preceding season, and which are now becoming the three upper 

 secondary branches. If it was not possible to form these the 

 preceding year (170, 171) they must now be originated. 



173. The pruning of the fruit-branches, and successional shoots, 

 and the treatment of the young ones, by disbudding and pinching, 

 are still carried on. The same course is adopted with regard to 

 the four branches, a, b, c, d, the extremities of which are short- 

 ened back at the winter-pruning. 



174. With regard to the three branches, e, e, e, their leading 

 shoots are pruned, for the first time, by shortening them to wood- 

 buds, situated at heights proportionate to the respective conditions 

 and state of growth of the shoots. If any of them have blossom- 

 buds, the shoots must be pruned to a wood-bud above the blossom- 

 buds ; and care must be taken to disbud, as soon as they push, 

 all wood-buds situated below the flowers, with the exception of 

 one or two wood-buds that are nearest the base of the shoots. 

 Immediately after pruning, the three secondary branches, e, e, e, 

 are nailed obliquely, tightening the shreds more or less as is 

 needful ; and afterwards all the young shoots that are retained are 

 nailed in the same way. During the growing season, the progress 

 of the leading shoots is watched, and they are pinched when 

 necessary. Their laterals are also pinched to six or eight leaves. 

 In short the growth of the branches of this part of the tree and 

 that of their shoots must be particularly attended to lest they 

 impoverish those below ; the upper young shoots must be nailed 

 as soon as possible, in order to keep the sap in the lower parts. 

 If, notwithstanding these precautions, the leading shoot become 

 too strong for the others, it must be cut on a lateral, situated in . 

 front, which must be immediately nailed in the proper direction, 

 and close to the wall. 



175. Seventh Pruning. — Eighth year of planting. This 

 pruning is, in every respect, like the preceding. The main 

 branch a (Fig. 11) is pruned for the seventh time ; the branch b 

 for the sixth ; c for the fifth ; and d for the fourth time. The 

 secondary branches, e, e, e, are pruned for the second time since 

 their formation was commenced, without counting the prunings on 

 the fruit-branches from which they have originated. By 

 designating all the principal branches by the letters of the 

 alphabet, the whole course of proceeding can be seen at a glance, 

 as the order of the alphabet also shows that of the formation of 

 the branches. Thus, the letter a indicates the main branch that 



