THE OECHAED AND FETJIT GAEDEN. 



out, and their after-treatment must be the same as that 

 of other stocks. 



In the management of peach and nectarine trees, the 

 important thing to be held in view is to keep up a con- 

 stant succession of young wood all over the tree. 



For the winter pruning, every shoot should be short- 

 ened in proportion to its strength, cutting back to where 

 the wood is well ripened, which may be judged by its 

 colour and general character. By this the pithy and 

 unripened wood is taken away. 



To do well for the tree for the following year, the best 

 young shoots only must be spared, and they must not be 

 left too crowded, but at a fair and regular distance each 

 one from its neighbours. Trees which have arrived at 

 bearing age may have the strongest bearing shoots short- 

 ened to about twelve inches in length, those of medium 

 strength to about ten, and the weaker shoots to four or 

 six, pruning them to a treble eye, i.e., two fruit or short, 

 thick buds, one on each side of a wood, or thin, sharp- 

 pointed bud. Shoots which have no fruit-buds may 

 be pruned to a wood-bud. Shoots that have been allowed 

 to become too crowded must be thinned out. The trees 

 should afterwards be trained, and this should be finished 

 by February. 



In pruning, always let the slanting cut be towards 

 the wall, where it will be sheltered from sun and wet ; 

 whereas if it face forwards it looks badly, the sun cracks 

 it, and the rain beats into it. For this reason the cut 

 should always face backwards or downwards. 



May is the time for beginning disbudding or summer 

 pruning. "With a small-bladed, sharp knife, cut off all 

 shoots which tend forwards and backwards, except in the 

 case of one here or there which, in spite of its awkward 

 position, may be wanted to fill a vacancy ; and take care 

 not to go near enough to the tree to injure it. A few 

 of them may be left with two or three leaves each, to 

 furnish foliage for sheltering the fruit. When the shoots 

 grow long enough, train the leading shoots to the wall, 

 and select a sufficient number of side-shoots, low down, 

 on the stronger branches, and train them in also at 



