104 THE HOME ACRE. 



best results, the priming-shears are almost as essen- 

 tial as in the case of the grape-vine. More than 

 in any other fruit-tree, the sap tends strongly to- 

 wards the ends of the shoots. Left to Nature, only 

 the terminal buds of these will grow from year to 

 year; the other buds lower down on the shoots 

 fail and drop off. Thus we soon have long naked 

 reaches of unproductive wood, or sucker-like 

 sprouts starting from the bark, which are worse 

 than useless. Our first aim should be to form a 

 round, open, symmetrical head, shortening in the 

 shoots at least one half each year, and cutting out 

 crossing and interlacing branches. For instance, if 

 we decide to grow our trees as dwarf standards, 

 we shall cut back the stems at a point two feet from 

 the ground the first spring after planting, and let 

 but three buds grow, to make the first three or 

 leading branches. The following spring we shall 

 cut back the shoots that have formed, so as to 

 make six leading branches. Thereafter we shall 

 continue to cut out and back so as to maintain an 

 open head for the free circulation of air and 

 light. 



To learn the importance of rigorous and careful 

 pruning, observe the shoots of a vigorous peach 

 tree, say three or four years old. These shoots or 

 sprays are long and slender, lined with fruit-buds. 

 You will often find two fruit-buds together, with a 



