PEACHES IN POTS 381 



lead away the superfluous sap not necessary for the fruit. 

 At the same time, these branches must have at their base 

 several leaf -buds to which we may cut back and cause the 

 production of bearing wood for the next year. Long and 

 thin branches, with but single or double flower -buds and a 

 leaf -bud at the point, can bear fruit, but leave behind only 

 bare places in the fall when they die. It is, finally, to be 

 observed, in cutting-back, that this should not be done to a 

 single flower-bud, as otherwise the shoot dies off to the next 

 leaf-bud. Those shoots on which the dead flowers fall off 

 can be cut back immediately after flowering to the two 

 leaf -buds at the base. An observance of these directions 

 will make it an easy matter to prune peaches in the spring. 

 The pyramidal form which is to be given must, however, 

 always be kept in mind in determining the position of the 

 branches to be saved. 



"THE THIRD AND FOLLOWING YEARS. In the winter 

 pruning of the third and following years, the shoots of the 

 year before, on all fruits, are cut -back to three to four buds, 

 and here it is that the pyramidal form must be looked after. 

 All trees clothe themselves with weak bearing wood at the 

 base of last year's stem, and the pruning of the stem 

 growth must be done accordingly. If it were cut too long, 

 many of the buds would not grow, and bare places would 

 result. Too heavy pruning would cause the formation of 

 strong, woody shoots at the lower part of the tree. With 

 our seed fruit and stone fruit pyramids in pots, the branches 

 must not stand too thick or shade each other. At all times 

 light and air must reach the stem in order to benefit 

 the fruits. The removal of single large stems in later 

 years will make this possible. It may also be mentioned 

 here that the dry wood forming in the tree in later life 

 should be removed. In the third, as in" all following years, 

 the summer pinching-back is executed the same as in the 

 first year, and in the stone fruits, particularly in peaches, 

 provide for the fruiting wood in the coming year. Thus 



