THE PEACH. 263 



taken, says: "This generally approved form begins to 

 find imitators, and it is probable that one day it will be 

 adopted by all intelligent gardeners." 



First Year. We will begin with a peach-tree one year 

 from the bud, and cut it down to within six or eight 

 inches, or three or four buds of the stock. From the buds 

 produced below the cut, two of the strongest are chosen, 

 one on each side to form the two main branches branches 

 merely ; all the other shoots are destroyed, and these two 

 are allowed to grow upright, and in the fall they will be 

 three to four feet high. 



Second Year (fig. 124). In the spring, when hard frosts 

 are no longer apprehended, 

 the branches are examined 

 to see if they be sound and 

 healthy, free from bruises, 



insects, etc., and they are 



. , i . Fi g- 124. Fte. 125. 



cut back to twelve or fif- SECOND TEAR THIRD TEAR< 



teen inches of their base, 



according to their strength ; a weak branch ought al- 

 ways to be cut back in such a case as this further than 

 a strong one. 



The bud cut to, should, if possible, be on the inside, 

 and the next bud below it on the outside ; the first to 

 continue the main branch, and the other to form the first 

 exterior secondary branch. All shoots starting on the 

 front or rear of the main branch should be rubbed off, and 

 those on the sides laid in early to prevent their acquiring 

 too much vigor. The main branches are left until July, 

 when they are brought down to the form of a V, and at- 

 tached to the w T all or trellis in this position. The exterior 

 secondary branch is placed more obliquely, and the fruit 

 branches are kept in a uniform and moderate growth by 

 pinching and laying in. The most vigorous should 

 always be laid in first, to check them, and favor the others. 



Third Year (fig. 125). After loosening the tree from 



