282 THE PEACH. 



measurably improved. If this pruning is regularly and 

 annually performed, the head of the tree will be preserved 

 in an even, handsome, and compact shape, fig. 230, and in 

 a healthy arid vigorous condition ; and it will become rarely 

 necessary to shorten and thin out the limbs by cutting back 

 the larger side-branches. 



The pruning may be performed with a hedge or long- 

 handled shears, or with nearly equal convenience by means 

 of a light standing ladder and a common pruning knife. 



Any cultivator who may doubt the value of shortening-in 

 the peach, need only to try the experiment for a few suc- 

 cessive years, on a tree standing side by side with one un- 

 pruned, to become fully convinced of its eminent advan- 

 tages.* 



Training the peach against walls and buildings, so essen- 

 tial to the successful culture of the peach in England, is 

 rarely practiced 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 protect- 

 ed, render the crop more liable to destruction by frost. Es- 

 palier training has been found to give excellent fruit, in 

 consequence of the thorough pruning and full exposure 



Fig. 231 First year. Fig. '232 Second year. Fig. 233 Third year. 



adopted in the management of the trees. Figs. 231, 232, 

 and 233, exhibit the fan training usually adopted in espalier 

 and wall training, in its sucessive stages. 



To induce early bearing, shorten back one-third or one- 

 half the new shoots about midsummer, or a little sooner, 

 which, by lessening the growth of the leaves, tends to the 

 production of fruit buds. 



* Such varieties are apt to overbear, and not come to perfection at the north, as 

 the Heath Cling, are thinned of the crop in the most easy and perfect manner by 

 cutting back the shoots. 



