PEACHES IN POTS. 91 



Second Year. — If the trees have been well treated, they 

 will have set many more fruit buds than will be wanted. 

 Prune the trees before they begin to grow, by cutting back 

 just half of the shoots to a good bud — a leaf bud — which can 

 readily be known by their small size and pointed form. If 

 there are no single buds at the right place, cut to a triple bud 

 which contains two flower buds, with a leaf bud in the centre. 

 If there are nine shoots, four may be cut down to within five 

 buds of the base, and the others shortened in to about fifteen 

 inches in length ; the short branches will supply wood for 

 next year, when the old bearing wood should be cut back to 

 bring up young shoots in their place — always bearing in mind 

 that tlie peach never bears on the old wood — and that all such 

 is useless. If the cutting back is neglected, the trees will be 

 tall and lank with only leaves and fruit on the ends — which 

 may answer for the careless cultivator, but which form poor 

 looking specimens. 



Scrape away the top soil down to the fresh lively roots, 

 and top dress with a good rich compost. This will support 

 the trees for a time. Give all due attention to airing and 

 watering, and especially the destruction of the red spider, so 

 troublesome to the peach, and by the 10th of June the fruit 

 will be of good size, and the weather so warm the trees may 

 be removed to the open air, selecting a sheltered spot. Here 

 they will perfect their fruit, which will be better flavored than 

 any raised in the orchard-house, unless the sashes are wholly 

 removed. Apply a mulching of cow or horse manure, the 

 fertilizing qualities of which will be carried down to the roots 

 in watering, and give increased size to the fruit. Pinch off 

 the laterals from time to time, and so select the shoots as to 

 have a supply of young wood for next year. When the fruit 

 begins to color, water less bountifully than before, and discon 

 tinue all syringing ; by the middle of July, if the trees are 

 started in March, the fruit will be ripe. 



After the fruit is gathered give attention to the growth and 

 ripening of the wood, and when cold weather arrives remove 

 to the shed or cellar as before. This, in brief, is the course 



