238 PRUNIKG. 



taken, sajs : " This generally approved form begins to 

 find imitators, and it is probable tliat one day it will be 

 adopted by all intelligent gardeners." 



First year. — We will begin with a peach tree one year 

 from the bud, and cut it down to within six or eight 

 inches, or three or four buds of the stock. From the buds 

 produced below the cut, two of the strongest are chosen, 

 one on each side, to form the two main branches — hranclies 

 mere I all the other shoots are destroyed, and these two 

 are allowed to grow upright, and in the fall they will be 

 three to four feet high. 



Second year (fig. 115). — In the spring, when hard frosts 

 are no longer apprehend- a a 



ed, the branches are ex- \ / \ ^ 



amined to see if they be \ f "'^K^ 



sound and healthy, free 9^^ 



from bruises, insects, etc., fjs- h^- Fig. iie. 



T ,1 , T 1 , Second year. Third year. 



and they are cut back to 



twelve or fifteen inches of their base, according to their 

 strength ; a weak branch ought always to be cut back in 

 such a case as this further than a strong one. 



The bud cut to, should, if possible, be on the inside^ 

 and the next bud below it on the outside^ the first to 

 continue the main branch, and the other to form the firsi 

 exterior secondary branch. All shoots starting on the 

 front or rear of the main branch should be rubbed ofi\, 

 and those on the sides laid in early to prevent their 

 acquiring too much vigor. The main branches are left 

 till July, when they are brought down to the form of a Y, 

 and attached to the wall or trellis in this position. The 

 exterior secondary branch is placed more oblique, and the 

 fruit branches are kept in a uniform and moderate growth 

 by pinching and laying in. The most vigorous should 

 alwavs be laid in first to check them, and favor the others. 



Third year (fig. IIG). — After loosening the tree from 



