PEA 



427 



PEA 



inches asunder, for next year's bearers ; 

 and divest them of nny lateral twigs to 

 prevent a thicket-like intricacy, and to 

 promote a healthy fruitful growth in 

 the shoots themselves. In the course 

 of the summer regulation, if any partial 

 vacancy occurs, or should a young tree 

 under training want an additional sup- 

 ply of wood, shorten some convenient- 

 ly placed strong shoot, in June, to a 

 few eyes to furnish a supply of laterals 

 the same season." — Ahercromhie. 



Thisdishiidding and regulation shoi-ild 

 be done by degrees. If many shoots 

 and leaves are removed suddenly, it 

 occasions gumming, and over-luxuri- 

 ance in the shoots that remain. If 

 shoots are very strong, train them as 

 nearly perpendicular as is admissible, 

 that there may be no check to the sap's 

 return. Shoots less robust train hori- 

 zontally. 



Protect from frosts whilst in blos- 

 som ; and, when the fruit is well set, 

 syringe three times a week with water 

 to which half a pint of ammoniacal li- 

 quor, from gas-works, has been added 

 to each gallon. This will destroy all 

 insects, and especially the aphis, and 

 prevent the occurrence of mildew. 



" Winter Pruning may be performed 

 at the fall of the leaf, and thence, ac- 

 cording to some professional waiters, 

 atany tit'ie in mild weather until spring. 

 It should be completed in February or 

 early in March, before the blossom- 

 buds are considerably advanced, which 

 are distinguishable by being round, 

 plump, and prominent, while the leaf 

 and shoot-buds are oblong and narrow. 

 Retain, in all parts of the tree, a com- 

 petent supply of such regular grown 

 shoots of last year as are apparently 



quite close the redundant, irregular, 

 and other improper shoots: remove or 

 reduce some parts of the former bearers 

 of the two preceding years, cutting the 

 most naked quite away, and others 

 down to the most eligible young branch 

 or well-placed shoot. Also take out 

 all diseased and dead wood, retaining 

 young where necessary to fill a vacui- 

 ty." — Ahercromhie. 



The most systematic mode of pre- 

 serving a constant supply of young 

 wood is that proposed by ^Ir. Seymour, 

 and described as follows in the Gar- 

 dener'>s Magazine : — 



"A maiden plant must be cut down 

 to three eyes, a, and three shoots being 

 produced, the two lower ones are left 

 at full length, and the succeeding spring 

 the centre shoot is again cut down to 

 three eyes. At the time of disbudding 

 the trees all the buds on the lower side 

 of the two horizontal branches are rub- 

 bed off, and buds are left on the upper 

 side of the b>-anches at a distance of 

 from nine to twelve inches from each 

 other. These are suffered to grow five 

 or six inches, and are then stopped ; 

 but still suffering the leading shoot to 

 extend itself. At the second spring 

 pruning, the centre shoot is again cut 

 to three eyes ; or, if the tree be very 

 vigorous, five eyes may be left, two lor 

 each side, and a centre one for again 

 furnishing leading shoots. The leading 

 shoots are laid in the fan form, nine 

 or ten inches from each other. The 

 shoots on the leading branch are nailed 

 to the wall in summer; but after the 

 winter's pruning they are tied to the 

 leading shoots to be nailed in, where 

 they get well ripened, and mature their 

 buds for anotlier crop. At the winter's 



fruitful in blossom-buds. Most part pruning they are cut to three or four 



of these should be shortened, not in 

 discriminately, but according to their 

 strength and situation ; the very strong 

 shoots should be left longer, being 

 topped about one-fourth or one-third. 

 Shoots of middling vigour reduce one- 

 third or one-half; and prune the very 

 weak to two or three buds. Always 

 cut at a shoot-bud to advance for a 

 leader. Sometimes a shoot-bud lies 

 between a twin blossom-bud ; cut half 

 an inch above the bud. As many new 

 shoots as will lie from three to six 

 inches asunder may be deemed a com- 

 petent supply : remove or reduce some 



inches, according to their strength. 

 The maiden plant, being headed down 

 the first winter, will present two late- 

 rals, 6. The second year, at the end of 



Fig. 106. 



summer, there will be four side-shoots, 



part of the former bearers. Cut out and six or more laterals, c. In the fol- 



