CHAPTER XVI 

 The Peach and Nectarine 



ONLY those whose gardens are in fairly mild districts can hope 

 to grow the Peach and Nectarine out of doors successfully 

 and even there this fruit needs the shelter of a wall facing either 

 west or south. Ordinary loamy soil is suitable. Before plant- 

 ing takes place the border ought to be deeply dug, lime rubble 

 or basic slag being freely dug in. If the soil is at all poor, 

 half-decayed yard manure may be used also ; this, however, is 

 not usually necessary. Young Peach trees generally grow too 

 vigorously during the first few years after planting, and to 

 make the soil rich is to aggravate the evil. 



Planting is best done in October or early November ; the 

 roots must be spread out as much as possible, and the upper- 

 most ones ought not to be covered with more than 2 inches 

 of soil. It is wise to prepare the border a week or two before 

 planting takes place, so that it may settle to its normal level. 

 The soil must be made firm about the roots ; it is fatal to success 

 to plant fruit trees in loose soil. 



Pruning. The pruning of the Peach and Nectarine is per- 

 fectly simple. The fruits are produced upon the shoots or 

 branches that formed during the previous year ; in pruning, 

 the old branches those that have already borne a crop of 

 fruit are cut out, and the fresh shoots those that will 

 yield the following year are trained in to take their places. 

 The best time for pruning is as soon as the fruits are 

 gathered. 



Training is a matter of importance. The best form of 

 Peach and Nectarine tree is that known as fan shaped, in which 

 the branches radiate from the centre and low down in the tree. 

 A well-shaped tree is not obtained or at least retained with- 

 out some care, but it may be ensured if another important 

 task, that of disbudding, is attended to. 



Disbudding consists of removing superfluous shoots in early 



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