Propagation of the Trees. 



307 



One cifthe best manures for the peach-tree is wood-ashes, whether 

 fresh or leached; hence all composts with this material are emi- 

 nently beneficial to peach orchards. When applied alone, half a 

 peck of fresh and half a bushel of leached ashes to each tree, are 

 suitable quantities, spread broadcast over the surface. 



The mode of pruning and shortening-in the peach has been 

 already described in a previous chapter. 



Training the peach against walls and buildings, so essential to the 

 successful culture of the peach in England, is rarely practised in 

 this country. It would doubtless hasten the maturity of the crop ; 

 but the warm exposure would at the same time, unless the branches 

 were purposely protected, render the crop more liable to destruction 

 by frost. Espalier training has been found to give excellent fruit, 

 in consequence of the thorough pruning and full exposure adopted 

 in the management of the trees. Figs. 347, 348, and 349, exhibit the 

 fan training usually adopted in espalier and wall training, in its suo 



Fig. 347- 



Fig. 348. 



Fig- 349- 



cessive stages. The limits of this work do not admit full directions, 

 but the following general rules may be observed as a guide, and 

 will apply to all other annual pruning of the peach : i. The fruit 

 being borne on the shoots of the preceding year, a good supply of 

 annual bearing shoots must be kept on all parts of the tree. 2. As 

 the shoots, left unpruned, extend yearly in length, and become bare 

 on the sides, it is necessary to cut them back, in order to keep up a 

 supply of new shoots from their base. 3. Rub off or cut out all the 

 shoots which spring up from the bases of shoots thus cut back, 

 leaving only a few strong ones at regular distances, so as to admit 

 sun and air to the leaves, which distances may be usually about six 

 inches,* 



* For full directions in pruning the peach (as well as other fruit-trees), see Barry's Fruit 

 Garden, the best and most complete work on this subject which has appeared in this 

 tountry. 



