225 



nnpruned, or when the shoots have not been properly shortened back 

 every year, they are apt to make a weak and straggling growth of 

 branches and cease to yield satisfactory crops. Then again these 

 trees are specially liable to injury from exposure to strong winds, 

 and the breaking of the branches from the weight of the fruit. Trees 

 of this class, when healthy, may be renovated by cutting back the 

 heads to stimulate a growth of strong young branches. This 

 operation should be performed in the winter or before growth starts 

 in the spring. The better plan is to cut back only half the branches 

 one season and the remainder next year. By adopting this system 

 growth, w^ill be more regular, and better protection afforded to the 

 young shoots. Weak and unshapely trees can often, by heading back, 

 be turned into compact well-furnished specimens that will yield good 

 crops. As a matter of course, however, the practice will be of no use 

 if the trees are debilitated from disease. 



'^raining. Peaches and Nectarines should be invariably trained 

 with low heads, which are not so liable to injury from strong winds 

 as tall trees, and at the same time afford a better shade to the stems, 

 which is a matter of some importance in a warm climate. Low 

 heads also afford greater facilities for gathering the fruit and pruning. 

 Various forms of training may be adopted, according to the fancy of 



Young Tree making 

 Natural growth. 



Young Tree properly 

 Trained. 



A good form for a Peacli 

 Tree 



cultivators, but none is better for standard trees than the " globular " 

 head, as shown by the illustration. This mode of training enables 

 the trees to withstand the effects of high winds with the least injury, 

 and affords the requisite shade to the stems and brandies. In the 



2N 



