42 COBDON TRAINING. 



As we are now treating of peach trees, of course the upper 

 shoots must be trained like those on the upper sides of the 

 Diagonal leaders, and the lower shoots like those on the lower 

 side of these leaders. The branches to be shortened by one- 

 third yearly, and when older, by one-fourth, and finally by 

 one-sixth of their length ; the main stem encouraged fairly 

 to grow. An interval of twelve inches is sufficient between 

 each stage of branches, while, in old methods, eighteen or 

 twenty were needed for the enormous slioots to bear their 

 solitary peach. Of course tlie crop in fruit ought to be 

 doubled, and would be but for fear of sacrificing the tree. 



But how long time it takes to reach the top of a ten or 

 twelve-foot wall we all know well enough, and when there, 

 the tree is beginning to decay. A system valueless for such 

 splendid fruit. For pear trees, which last longer, it will do 

 well enough, but the Diagonal Cordon is far superior, even 

 for peaches under the glass of a forcing peach-house. If then 

 it be desired to reduce peach trees, trained on some queer 

 old method, to the newer plans, the shoots must be pinched 

 in, and cut off by degrees till the spur with two shoots thereon 

 is reached. Then .some strong shoots should be selected to 

 fill up the blanks between the branches, and laid in to the 

 wall, being very slightly shortened in the winter. Their lat- 

 erals should be pinclied in to two buds, and with care, the 

 tree will become reorganized in two seasons, withuul injuring 

 the crop; because that shoot which is to bear the fruit can be 

 left to bear it, being only pinched off at two leaves beyond 

 the fruit, and cut back behind the fruit immediately after it is 

 gathered. The other non-bearing shoots may be closely 

 pinched in and cut back, as required. There is not very 

 much difficulty in doing this. After a severe blight this July, 

 I cut off the miserable ends, and refreshed the trees, and 

 brought them well into shape, 



As to the treatment of peaches and nectarines in pots, it is 

 easy enough. Treat the spurs and shoots like the Diagonal, 

 only rather more closely pinched in, as there is less room. On 

 the bush tree (like a currant bush), all the branches, say eight 



