SECOND year's TRAINING. 33 



being left long to bear, and the other being cut short to suc- 

 ceed it. In this way a succession of fruitful wood is sure to 

 be obtained, while on the old method, when once a shoot had 

 borne, it was slightly shortened in, and permitted to bear on 

 the new growth ; so that in time the fruit was produced so 

 far from the centre, that a severe pruning, most injurious to 

 the peach, was needed. The shoots on the spurs multiply in 

 time, and are cut back, or left long, as required. Every suc- 

 cessive pruning must have for its object to keep the bearing 

 wood close and compact, and allow on the long shoots left for 

 fruit just enough of leaves to nourish the fruit. 



Two shoots for each spur are required. If any spur have 

 not the necessary two shoots on it, then it is a vast defect, 

 and must be remedied by pinching back judiciously at first, 

 and by endeavoring to encourage the single shoot to become 

 double ; of course the nearer to the spur the better. In this 

 case all our endeavors must be directed to obtain the two 

 shoots, quite irrespective of fruit, and at this winter's pruning, 

 if there be but that melancholy single shoot, then vigorously 

 cut in to two leaf-buds, — not the fruit-buds, — for if you do 

 the spur is ruined for ever. However, even then the whole 

 tree is not spoilt, for there are so many spurs, and so many 

 shoots, that a remedy can always be found. A practiced eye 

 will see the difference between a fruit and a leaf-bud almost 

 at once — certainly by midsummer ; while a mere beginner 

 would be puzzled to decide till the ensuing spring. 



Second Yearns Training. — We come now to the tree in the 

 Frontispiece marked " second year." The first leader A will 

 rapidly ascend and reach the top of the wall, and the lateral 

 left to form the second leader B, having also shot out, is 

 turned up sharply, when it has reached twelve inches from its 

 starting place. It will, in the course of this year, reach to 

 about half-way towards the summit of the wall, as seen. As 

 soon as the first leader A has reached the top, pinch off the 

 end; this will strengthen the second leader. The second 

 leader will be shortened a little at the winter pruning, as the 

 case may be, always remembering to cut to a front bud. 

 3 



