104 PEACH. 



in this way I account for Peaches being less plentiful than 

 they were when left almost to nature, which was the case, I 

 am informed, in the beginning of the present century. That 

 this malpractice in horticulture is very general, the most 

 superficial observer may discover, by comparing the thrifty 

 growth of those trees scattered by nature in our highways 

 aud byways with many of those aided by the art of man. If 

 any of my readers should require proof of my assertions, I 

 can show them from the window of the room where this 

 article is being written, scores of living, or rather dying evi- 

 dences of the evil of deep planting. 



All the varieties of the Peach produce their fruit upon the 

 young wood of a year old, the blossom buds rising immedi- 

 ately from the eyes of the shoots. The same shoots seldom 

 bear after the first year, except on some casual small spurs 

 on the two years' wood, which is not to be counted upon. 

 Hence the trees are to be pruned as bearing entirely on the 

 shoots of the preceding year, and a full supply of regular 

 grown shoots must be retained for successional bearers. Cut 

 out the redundant shoots, and all decayed and dead wood, 

 and reduce some of the former bearers, cutting the most 

 naked quite away. 



A Peach Orchard may be planted at any time after the 

 bud is established, until the trees are three or four years old, 

 which may be placed from fifteen to twenty feet from each 

 other, or from any other spreading trees. The dwarf kinds 

 may be introduced into the kitchen garden, and trained 

 against fences, as directed for the Apricot, or as espaliers, 

 or dwarf standards. 



