112 FRUIT GARDEN. 



maybe said that, in the training of peach-trees, "what- 

 ever is best administered is best ;" and there is no doubt 

 that many ingenious gardeners have only partial suc- 

 cess, because, from the multiplicity of their engage- 

 ments, their trees can receive only partial attention. 



For cold and late situations, Mr. Knight recommend- 

 ed the encouraging of spurs on the young wood ; such 

 spurs, when close to the wall, being found to generate 

 the best organized and most vigorous blossoms, and thus 

 to ensure a crop of fruit. They may be produced by 

 taking care during the summer-pruning, or disbudding, 

 to preserve a number of the little shoots emitted by the 

 yearly wood, only pinching off the minute succulent 

 points. On the spurs thus procured, numerous blos- 

 som-buds form early in the following season. This 

 mode of spurring is much pra.cticed in Scotland. 



Peach-trees, particularly in the north of England, 

 and also in Scotland, require protection from atmosphe- 

 rical influences, especially at the period of blossoming. 

 As already noticed, branches of spruce or silver fir, or 

 other spray, are sometimes woven into frames, which 

 are fixed in front of the trees, and removed during the 

 day in fine weather {Q-al. Hort. Mem., i., 276). Canvas 

 or bunting screens are equally effectual, and perhaps 

 more easily movable. Straw-ropes, straw-nets, and a 

 variety of other expedients, have been proposed, and 

 may be used according to circumstances. If the screens 

 be applied early in the season, great benefit may be 

 derived from retarding the blossom till the frosty 

 nights of spring be past. If the night frosts have been 

 severe, a copious sprinkling of water over the whole 

 tree, before the influence of the -morning sun be felt, 

 has been found to be very usefuV in gradually raising 



