22 The Fruit Garden. [Jan. 



years growth, to produce {hoots in proper places, fo as to 

 cover the wall or clpalier regularly with branches, from the 

 bottom to the top. 



So that when the trees have acquired branches enough for 

 its firft formation, it will afterwards naturally furnifn branches 

 to cover the wall or efpalier regularly every way, to the 

 allotted extent, without any farther (liortening ; except on 

 particular occaiions, when a vacancy may happen in any 

 part ; according to the rule mentioned above, in the article 

 of Apples and Pears. 



There is one thing farther to be obferved in pruning ap- 

 ple, pear, plum, and cherry trees ; and that is, vv^hen the 

 trees have acquired branches enough to cover the wall or 

 efpalier, at the diftance above mentioned, then all thofe 

 young fiioots of the laft fummer's growth, that are not want- 

 ed in vacancies to form new bearers, muft be cut off quite 

 clofc to the place from whence they arlfe, leaving no fpurs 

 but the fruit-fpurs that are naturally produced, which every 

 branch will be plentifully furniflied with, if the above rules 

 are obferved. 



Peaches^ "NeBarines^ afid Apricots, 



Peaches, nectarines, and apricots, may be pruned and 

 nailed any time in this month, if the weather fhould prove 

 mild ; or at all opportunities, without danger of any ma- 

 terial injury if pruned in froily weather. 



For although thefe trees are rather tenderer than the 

 forts before mentioned, and the frofl will aiTetl them more 

 at the places that are newly cut ; but by what I ever could 

 obferve, it is only extreme hard froil that can any way af- 

 tttt them in confequence of pruning, and that not ma- 

 terially. 



In the training and pruning of peaches, nectarines, and 

 apricots, little or no difference is to be obferved ; remark- 

 ing of all thefe forts, they produce their fruit principally 

 upon the young (hoots of the former fummer, the fruit rifmg 

 directly from the eyes of the Oioots, a plentiful fupply of 

 which mult be referved annually in every part, to tram in 

 for bearing : ihey alfo fumctimes bear on the fmall fpurs 

 ariling on the two or three year's v/ood, but more general- 

 ly the apricots, and all fuch fpurs fliould alfo be preferved, 

 for they often bear good fruit ; keeping in mind however, 

 ihat the young yearling fnoots are to be conficcrcd as the 

 general bearers ; obferving, that the branches and bearing 

 fiioots are to be trained to the wall horizontally, about five 



or 



