PEACH AND NECTARINE. 



Ill 



bearing shoots are wholly reproduced oncp a year. The 

 one side of this figure represents the tree after the win- 



Fis. 16. 



ter pruning, the other side before it has undergone that 

 operation. It will be observed that on this last side 

 there are pairs of shoots on the upper parts of the 

 mother branches. The lower shoot, that, namely, which 

 has borne fruit, is cut out, and the other is brought 

 down into it^ place. This replacing shoot is shortened 

 to about eight or nine inches, care being taken to cut 

 at a woad-bud ; and at the time of disbudding, the best 

 situate buds, and those nearest the base, are left for the 

 future year's bearing. To this plan it is objected, by a 

 writer in the Horticultural Register, that the annual 

 excision of the bearing shoots produces a series of rugged 

 and unsightly protuberances at their base, and along 

 the upper surfaces of the principal members ; an objec- 

 which also militates against Dumoutier's form. Mr. 

 Loudon, on the other hand, declares that Mr. Seymour's 

 mode is the most perfect in theory that has been de- 

 scribed. For ourselves,, we are inclined to prefer the 

 old fan-form, when well executed, as approaching nearest 

 to the natural habit of the tree, and as best adapted to 

 our uncertain climate. As a general observation, it 



