THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 159 



Generally speaking, it is best to defer pruning till the 

 first signs of the swelling of the buds, especially in 

 the case of the inexperienced, as then wood-buds and 

 fruit -buds are easily distinguished. This of course 

 refers to the shortening back of all young wood that 

 requires it. 



DISBUDDING, OR SUMMER PRUNING. 



What is known by the term "disbudding" the peach, 

 consists of the removal of all the buds while in a small 

 state that are not required to grow into shoots, to 

 furnish fruit-bearing wood for the following year. This 

 operation should be begun early, as soon as the buds 

 have started. They should not all be removed at once, 

 but at three different intervals of time. At the first 

 disbudding remove those which are termed by gar- 

 deners fore-right buds that is, those that are on the 

 front side of the shoots and that would grow at a right 

 angle from the trellis and those which are situated 

 on the opposite side of the shoot, thus leaving those 

 that are right and left. In about twelve or fourteen 

 days after this, about the half of those left should be 

 removed at intervals along the shoot, always leaving 

 the best-looking two buds near the base. The trees 

 should be examined and finally disbudded in about a 

 week after, removing all except the most promising 

 bud near the base, which is to form the chief growth 

 for next year's fruiting. On short stubby growths 

 this bottom bud and the terminal one will be enough 

 to leave. On longer shoots one or two intermediate 

 ones may be left if there is room enough to tie them 

 in without crowding the tree. But always give the 

 preference to the lowest-placed buds. 



