PROPAGATION OF PLANTS 179 



only three or four to grow, each will be again five or six 

 feet long by fall. The next February we must again cut 

 back fully one-half of this new growth and permit two buds 

 to grow from each of the three or four main branches. 

 The tree will probably blossom this spring, but should not 

 be allowed to bear more than three peaches. We have 

 now a beautiful little tree with six or eight main branches. 

 The following February we must cut these back half their 

 new growth and remove all weak shoots that may have 

 started. The next spring we shall again let each of the 

 six form two branches, and we shall have a tree with about 

 twelve limbs, stocky and able to support the burdens of 

 coming autumns. This year, the fifth from seed, our tree 

 may be allowed to bear a peck of peaches, and the next 

 a bushel, and after that, from five to ten bushels. The 

 future pruning will consist in removing entirely all weak 

 and slender shoots and cutting off about half the new 

 growth of the stronger branches. 



The universal complaint is that peach trees are no 

 longer capable of living and bearing more than four or 

 five years. This is thought to be due to retaining too 

 much of the new bearing wood and thus allowing the 

 tree to overbear too young. Nurserymen of long experi- 

 ence have assured me that by the above method, and good 

 yearly feeding and care, there is no reason why peach 

 trees should not be kept in good bearing from twenty to 

 thirty years. 



