Culture of the Peach in the open Air. 69 



Pig. 21. A full-grown Peach Tree, trained in Mr. Errington's manner. 



ever. The subject of training might fill a volume to little 

 purpose: enough has been said to explain the principle which I 

 have preferred in practice, and am solicitous to see generally 

 adopted. 



To those who have acted upon these principles, the process 

 of pruning will be rendered a less difficult matter than under 

 more untoward circumstances, especially at winter pruning, when 

 it is indispensable to cut away enormous quantities of young 

 wood. This will be in a great measure obviated, particularly 

 when a system of summer pruning is practised. Wherever the 

 peach is cultivated upon scientific principles, an annual dis- 

 budding will always take place when the young shoots are about 

 2 in. long, which will generally be about the end of May. Select 

 the shoots always for next year's bearing as near as possible to 

 the bottom of the present bearing wood, and rub all the others 

 off unless there is any scarcity of young wood, when it may be 

 requisite to leave for winter regulation a few shoots occasionally. 

 As to the buds which are intended to allow fruit to swell, instead 

 of rubbing them clean off close to the shoot, it will be better to 

 pinch them out half an inch from the wood, as the few leaves 

 left at the base will assist in swelling the fruit. Any shoots that 

 are intended for bearing wood and are growing out too vigo- 

 rously', should be stopped back ; and any of the leaders which 

 may appear unusually strong should have their points pinched 

 out, that they may make fresh growth and throw out laterals. 

 The winter pruning should commence the last fortnight in 

 February, and end the second week in March; during this 

 period the flower and leaf buds will be readily distinguished, the 

 former by their fat obtuse form, the latter by their pointed form, 

 enabling the operator to proceed with certainty and rapidity. 



F 3 



