92 CORDON TRAINING. 



of culture the first and second year. We might add many 

 minute directions which would extend our volume farther 

 than it is intended, which is merely supplying a few deficien- 

 cies of Mr. Brehaut. The enthusiastic cultivator will dis- 

 cover them in his efforts to success. 



The third and successive years require little more attention 

 than the second. If it is desirable to secure the best results, 

 the trees may be shifted the third year from the 13 into 18 

 inch pots, removing a little from the bottom of the ball, 

 slightly loosening the sides, and removing the surface as 

 before down to the fresh roots. Pot firmly and prune as 

 before. It is our opinion that trees more than five years old 

 are unprofitable and had better be thrown away, having a 

 fresh lot to take their places. No doubt, as Mr. Rivers says, 

 they can be kept in good bearing condition many years, as we 

 ourselves have had them from seven to nine years ; but tak- 

 ing into consideration the pruning and the ultimate beauty 

 and vigor of the trees, the tendency to become bare at the 

 base, a supply of fresh specimens will afford the best results. 



Pruning. — All or nearly all subsequent success depends 

 upon the care in pruning. We have given the general mode 

 of doing this, but the French cultivators have changed their 

 views in regard to pruning the peach, and as we think justly, 

 by which means severe cutting back annually is unnecessary, 

 and more compact and bushy specimens obtained. We have 

 not ourselves practiced this system, but for the information of 

 all who wish to try it, we copy the following account of it, 

 with engravings illustrating the same, by M. Dubreuil, who 

 has tried it and found it to be superior to the old mode of 

 pruning for espalier trees, and we doubt not for trees in pots 

 also. By the aid of the illustrations it will be fully understood. 



In order to understand fully the system as explained by 

 M. Dubreuil, it may be necessary to state what is in fact gen- 

 erally known, that the peach tree bears its fruit on the shoots 

 of the preceding summer ; these, when growing vigorously, 

 throw out laterals, which are termed summer laterals, because 

 they are produced from the buds of recent formation on 



