90 CORDON TRAINING. 



drainage, and two or three inches of the coarsest part of the 

 compost thrown in first. 



Head in the trees to ten or twelve inches, leaving a straight 

 stem with five to seven good huds ; prune off the larger roots 

 if they interfere with the potting. Then place in the pot and 

 fill up with tlie compost, making it very firm with a potting 

 stick ; fill witliin an inch of the rim of the pot. Set them 

 away in a half shady place for a few days till they begin to 

 break freely, when they may be removed to an open sunny 

 situation, plunging the pots partly in the soil ; water sparingly 

 for a few days. As the shoots continue to grow, if the five 

 or seven eyes all break, they will need no other care than 

 pinching in any laterals to two eyes ; but if less than five 

 shoots break, the tops should be pinched off when 6 or 8 

 inches long (early in June) which will induce them to throw 

 out more shoots, and form a handsome head upon which the 

 future beauty of the tree depends. Thus the tree will com- 

 plete its growth, with due attention to watering, by the autumn, 

 and set its flower buds for next year. Lift the pots occasion- 

 ally to prevent the growth of any roots through the holes in 

 the bottom. 



On the subject of pruning, which is in truth the important 

 part of peach tree culture, it is difficult to lay down definite 

 rules. Care should be taken that there are not too many 

 main branches the first year, and as by pinching the tops of 

 the shoots as above directed others spring out, generally 

 three to each, there would be fifteen, but only one should be 

 allowed to grow on to extend each branch, and the otliers 

 pinched off at the second or third bud, in order to form 

 lateral fruit bearing spurs. 



As soon as the wood begins to ripen and the leaves fall, 

 the pots should be removed to a warm situation, where they 

 can stand on boards or a dry sandy soil, which materially 

 benefits the roots, by keeping them warm and dry. When 

 frosts are severe enough to freeze the earth hard, remove the 

 trees to their winter quarters, whether in the cellar, the shed, 

 or the orchard-house. This completes the labor for the first 

 year. 



