114 THK FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



peachea and nectarines blossoming, are made in the month of April. 

 I doubt much if the majority of these, not treated on the retarding 

 principle, have not attempted to blossom long since. 



It is only a few days since, that I read in a contemporary paper 

 some notes on the recent severe frost, in which the writer says that 

 the destruction of peaches, etc., is unparalleled, every branch being 

 encased in frozen snow. Now the question arises, is such obliged 

 to be the case ; and would the preventing such an occurrence ensure 

 a crop ? 



Everybody must surely admit that he whose peaches or other 

 fruit — be they what they may — blossom a week or two later than 

 his neighbour's, has a superior chance in the majority of seasons, 

 although perhaps the gardens join each other. I much fear that in 

 the heat of the controversy which has long raged between parties 

 about this matter, the great principle of timely retarding has been 

 lost sight of. Every gardener must know how exciting the sunshine 

 sometimes is on a south wall, especially even in the end of February. 

 When on the heels of frosty or cold weather the blossom buds, with 

 a change of atmosphere and intense sunshine, begin to unfold 

 with a dangerous rapidity. Most, too, are aware that some plants — 

 not indigenous — of a highly excitable character as to their foliation, 

 frequently succeed better in a cold aspect than in a warm one. 

 Here, then, is the principle of retarding, to which I would direct 

 attention, only a stronger case still presents itself with regard to 

 the south Avail. I would now respectfully offer a little advice on 

 the summer management of wall fruits, more especially the Peach 

 and Nectarine, for although the culture of the latter has advanced 

 in some degree, yet we do not generally see them perfectly satis- 

 factory. This is, I conceive, in part owing to the neglect of careful 

 summer dressing. Many omit the stopping of gross shoots, termed 

 "robbers;" many more leave too much of the annual spray on 

 their trees ; the sure consequence of which is imperfectly-formed 

 blossom-buds, many of which become either absolutely barren, or 

 produce diminutive fruits. 



It ought to be taken as a maxim by the careful peach-dresser, 

 not to leave a single young shoot on the trees at the final disbud- 

 ding for which a reason does not exist. This may appear hard 

 doctrine to those accustomed to leave them somewhat at random, 

 which indeed too many are compelled to do, through the want of a 

 sufficient staff of the right sort of labourers; still we must not 

 confound principles with mere expedients; my advice is offered to 

 those who are more fortunately situated. 



Disbudding shouid extend over a period of some three weeks or 

 a month ; and once a week during that period will set all right. In 

 the first disbudding, the more foreright shoots, and those jammed 

 in, should be removed; in addition to these, the shoots which com- 

 pete with the leader should be rubbed away, and also any rival 

 shoots at the lower part of each " fork," where an experienced 

 peach-dresser will always direct his special attention, for it is of 

 the greatest import that the very lowest-situated healthy young 

 shoots should be preserved. This secures that succession of wood 



