4-6 OF PEACHES. 



suffer them to grow strong, they will hurt the fruit- 

 bearing shoot. 



Of Pruning^ Training, and Nailing old Peach-Trees. 



When the trees run up to the top of the wall, 

 leaving about three-fourths of it naked, [_See 

 Plate III. Jig, 3.] the best way is to cut them 

 as far back as you can find any young shoots or 

 buds. You must always leave some young shoots 

 or buds on Peach-trees, otherwise you endanger 

 the life of them. Never head them as you would 

 Apricot, Apple, or Pear-trees. If you cut or head 

 down Peach-trees without attending to the caution 

 given above, you run a great risk of killing them ; 

 but if there are a few young shoots, the top may 

 with safety be cut off, just above them, as they 

 will lead the sap up and produce strong branches, 

 which should be topped as you would do a young 

 tree to fill the wall. 



It is more difficult to procure new wood from 

 old Peach-trees than from any other, except 

 Nectarines. I have often made incisions in the 

 old branches, about the joint, cutting out a piece 

 from one to three inches, according to the size of 

 the branches. \^See Plate XI. j%. 2.] This 

 should be done in several places of the tree, to 

 furnish it with young wood ; always rounding the 

 edges where the incision is made, which should be 

 above the joint, and as near to it as may be. The 

 operation should be performed in the month of 



