98 FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION, 



branches back to a side shoot, which will give more 

 succor to the centre of the tree. 



Where strong, luxuriant shoots of one year old 

 are seen growing from the centre of the tree, or 

 when any shoot has been broken off, they may be 

 pruned, as they rob the smaller fruit bearing branches 

 of their proper nutriment. 



Summer Pruning. The peach, like all other 

 trees, requires some attention in the summer as to 

 regulating any superfluous branches that may appear, 

 and destroying insects. If it so happens, which 

 is very seldom the case, that too great a quantity of 

 fruit sets and swells, it may be thinned to give that 

 which is left on the tree a better size and flavor. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ttfLTtfRE OF POMIFEROUS FRUITS. 



ART* 1. On the Culture of the Jlpple. 



THE apple may be considered the staple fruit of 

 America ; and its well known properties in domestic 

 uses render anything that can here be said in recom- 

 mendation, entirely useless. The wild apple or 

 crab, is found growing spontaneously in most parts 

 of North America and Europe, and we have varie- 

 ties from Siberia, called the Siberian crab, which is 

 more grown as an ornament than for any useful pur- 

 pose. There are several species of the apple, and 

 the varieties are numerous and undetermined, which 



