221 



gravelly or limestone formation. Heavy wet deep clay land is the least 

 favourable location. In preparing the land, excepting in very light open 

 soils, it should be invariably stirred to a depth of not less than fifteen 

 inches in order to secure a good root-bed Care must also be taken to 

 secure perfect drainage, as the Peach is rather touchy if its roots are in 

 saturated ground for any length of time. The trees may be planted at 

 any time between the falling of the leaves and the middle of August, but 

 planting should not be delayed till growth becomes active. Vigorous 

 straight-stemmed trees with well-balanced heads and plenty of roots 

 should always be chosen. Peach trees are not so long lived as many 

 other fruits, and more especially in this part of the world, where 

 plantations will rarely last longer than from twenty to twenty-five years, 

 even with the most careful treatment. From twenty-one to twenty -four 

 feet apart will be ample space for Peach trees. It is particularly necessary 

 that the ground should be kept as free from weeds as possible. The 

 Peach, like other deciduous fruits., is liable to suffer from an undergrowth 

 of vegetation. Keep the weeds down with the scarifier or hoe in pre- 

 ference to roughly working the ground with the plough or spade. It is 

 an excellent plan to mulch the surface as far as the roots extend early in 

 the season, before the settled hot weather conies. By adopting this plan 

 the moisture contained by the soil is conserved to a very great extent. 

 Peach trees are very exhausting to the soil, and they must be supplied 

 with manure when necessary to keep them in good condition. Trees 

 often fail to produce crops, or die off: prematurely, through the lack of a 

 suitable supply of food. Cultivators should be able to judge from the 

 appearance of the trees as to whether they require more nourishment. 

 After a few years' growth an annual or biennial dressing of farm-yard 

 manure will generally prove serviceable, and if there are any special 

 deficiencies in the soil, such as the lack of lime, potash. &c., they should 

 be made good. 



PHUXING AND TEAIKIXG. 



Winter Pruning. The Peach and Nectarine require more pruning 

 than any other orchard trees to keep them in good bearing condition. 

 In the case of young trees the main object is, as a matter of course, to get 

 a vigorous growth and direct it into certain channels so as to have large, 

 well-furnished plants as soon as possible. The production of wood is at 

 this stage the principal consideration, and the trees must have their 

 branches thinned out rather heavily, taking care, however, to leave 

 enough foliage for shade. As the trees advance in growth the production 

 of fruit will be the primary object. The fruit is produced almost entirely 

 upon wood of the previous season's growth, and, as these shoots only bear 

 once, extra pruning is required to keep the trees shapely and well-furnished. 

 If left unpruned new shoots will be produced near the points of the old 

 ones, and growth will be weak and straggling. It is, therefore, essential 

 that at the winter pruning, the young shoots of the previous season should 

 be shortened back to a few buds. This shortening back is a material 

 check to over-bearing, and at the same time ensures the production of 



