56 THE BOOK OF THE PEACH. 



the desired level, and, therefore, the branches and 

 individual shoots may be arranged and secured in 

 position without any risk of the tree being "hung 

 up" to the trellis, as would probably happen w^ere 

 the branches and shoots so arranged at the time 

 the trees were planted. 



The advantage which home-grown trees, w r hen 

 transplanted in full leaf in the manner indicated 

 above, possess over trees transplanted after the 

 fall of the leaf, must be obvious to all : the former 

 trees being as thoroughly established at the roots 

 and quite as fit to respond to nature's call w r hen 

 subjected to the process of forcing, towards the 

 end of the year or early in January, as trees in 

 the same house which had not been disturbed at 

 the roots the previous year ; whereas the trees which 

 have been transplanted after they have shed their 

 foliage make little, if any, root growth before the 

 sap begins to rise the following spring. Hence 

 the gain derived by transplanting trees in full leaf 

 (where home-grown trees are available). 



PRUNING AND TRAINING THE TREES FIRST YEAR. 



To begin at the beginning, the leading shoots of 

 young trees obtained from the nurseries should not 

 be cut back to within six or eight inches of their 

 base, as was foolishly done up to within a few years 



