farmers' miscellany. 287 



while the weak tree, unless relieved by pruning short, would not 

 long continue to bear at all. A great deal may be done during 

 the summer in the way of pruning, disbudding ill-placed and su- 

 perfluous branches, wood buds, &c. Indeed were this part pro- 

 perly attended to, there would be little left for spring pruning, 

 except shortening the branches. But when there is so little atten- 

 tion paid to spring pruning, it is hardly to be expected that sum- 

 mer management will be attended to. 



Trimming the fruit is another operation that claims more atten- 

 tion than is paid to it. When the trees have set their fruit very 

 thickj they should be partially thinned, as soon as they are fairly 

 set, reserving the] final thinning until the fruit is done stoning ; 

 that is, till the shell is quite hard, and the kernel formed — for most 

 trees drop some of their fruit in the time of stoning, especially 

 those anywise unhealthy, so that the thinning had better be per- 

 formed at two or three different times, always observing to retain 

 the fullest, brownest, and best formed fruit. With respect to the 

 quantity or number of fruit proper to be left on the tree, mu&h 

 must depend on the size of the fruit, and vigor of the tree, large 

 varieties requiring to be thinned more than small varieties of fruits ; 

 full grown healthy trees, too, being allowed to bear more than 

 young and feeble trees, &c. The mistaken idea, than which nothing 

 can be more absurd, entertained by many, of losing so much of 

 their fruit, in carrying out the above directions, I know is the 

 great obstacle to their adoption. Any person having peach trees 

 about bearing the coming season, may convince himself by com- 

 parison. If they have two trees of a kind, both healthy, and as 

 near as possible alike in size, and all other respects, let the one be 

 treated according to the above directions, and let the other pro- 

 duce as it has been wont to do. It will be found that the tree 

 [treated in the above manner will produce an equal, and if the sys- 

 |tem be moderately carried out, a greater w^eight of fruit, and these 

 much finer and of higher flavor, consequently w^orth a great deal 

 more ; while, at the same time, the tree is preserved in a healthy 

 and vigorous state, and I think, prevent much of what is called the 



"yellows." 

 Highland Horticultural Nurseries, JVcu)&wrgA, March 10th, 1845. 



