PEACH TREE. 2IQ5 



tudinal cut downward, about an inch and a half long', so 

 that the incision may somewhat resemble the letter T; 

 by means of the tlat ivory haft of the budding-knife, the 

 t>ark is raised a little on each side of the longitudinal in- 

 cision, so as to receive the bud. The prepared bud is 

 placed in the upper part of the incision so made, and 

 drawn downwards; tbe upper part is then cut off trans- 

 versly, and the bud pushed upwards till the bark of the 

 bud and of the stock join together. It is retained in this 

 situation by means of tying with strands of bass, or 

 woolen yarn, applied in such manner, as to defend the 

 whole from the air and sun, but leaving the leaf stalk, 

 and the projecting part of the bark, uncovered. In 

 about a month after the operation, the tying is slacken- 

 ed ; buds, that have taken appear swelled, and the foot 

 stalk of the old leaf falls off on being slightly touched. 

 All shoots that spring below the budded part are care- 

 fully cutoff. The head of the stock is not removed till 

 the following March ; after this, the bud grows vigor- 

 ously, and, in the course of this summer, makes a con- 

 siderable shoot. Against the next spring, the shoot is 

 beaded down in the manner of young grafted trees. 



In taking up the young trees, care must be taken to 

 preserve the roots as much as possible. Such parts as 

 are bruised should be removed, and the small roots may 

 be a little shortened. Be careful not to plant them too 

 deep. They should be planted 12 or 15 feet apart. — 

 It is important to transplant these trees, as young as 

 possible, where you mean them to stand ; if in the ker- 

 nel so much the better; because in that case there will 

 be no check pf growth, which always injures peach 

 trees. 



Pruning must be omitted until they have taken root ; 

 and then but very little is necessary, except cutting 

 away the decayed branches. In gummy trees, as the 

 peach or cherry, all wounds should be carefully covered 

 from the weather. When young trees are overloaded 

 with fruit, it is absolutely necessary to thin them out 

 while small according to the strength of the tree. 



The premature decay of peach trees has been ascrib- 

 ed to various causes. But the true causes, as detailed 

 by Dr. Mease, seem to be the following. 



