THE PEACH. 



157 



present described. They are, in fact, almost without 

 buds for three or four inches from their base ; this is a 

 very troublesome disposition, for whatever we may do, 

 in the process of obtaining buds, the branch will grow 

 to too great a length. Sometimes, however, these 

 branches present two buds, as shown at A (fig. 137). 



Fig. 137. Irregular Branch, 

 with Wood-Buds at Base. 



Fig. 138. Irregular Branch, Pinched too 

 early. 



These branches are cut at B, above the wood-bud 

 nearest to the base. This close pruning, repeated 

 during several years, often gives rise to new wood-buds 

 at the point of junction with the main branch. But 

 if the irregular shoots have been pinched much shorter 

 than we have described, they will produce small 

 branches (D, fig. 138), which need not be cut at all. 



The different branches which we have now described 

 are the only ones that should be met with on a care- 

 fully pruned tree. Unfortunately, however, the pinch- 

 ing is often not performed soon enough, and the 

 branches will become gourmand shoots, which will take 



