THE PEACH. 



149 



become gourmand branches (fig. 123) must be cut at 

 A, above their two lower leaves. This will give rise to 

 buds which will become shoots (B, fig. 124), and which 

 can be treated as fruit-branches at the winter pruning. 



The buds that are less vigorous should not be pinched, 

 unless they have grown beyond sixteen inches. 



The first pinching generally suffices to arrest the 

 excessive growth of shoots intended to become fruit- 

 branches ; but they not unfrequently afterwards send 



Fig. 125. Pinching Irregular 

 Buds. 



Fig. 126. Shoot bearing a succession of 

 Irregular Shoots. 



out towards the top one or two irregular branches 

 (fig. 125), which must be pinched when grown about 

 eight inches. It is seldom that pinching has to be 



