48 OF PEACHES* 



however approve of nailing the young w^ood too 

 soon ; for, by so doing, the heat of the sun will 

 occasion them to grow too fast. 



You may save some of the largest and straightest 

 of the shoots that are cut off) and run them in * 

 among the small branches of the trees to prevent 

 them from being broken by the wind. This will 

 save a great deal of Summer-nailing : I mean this 

 for the second Summer-nailing. At the time you 

 do this, carefully take off all the side siioots that 

 come out from the tops of the young branches. 



When the second nailing is done, if you should 

 find any very strong shoots, they should be cut 

 out, leaving the fine kind side-shoots that have 

 been produced since the first topping; but only 

 those that will bear fruit. If the Autumn should 

 prove fine, the trees will continue in full leaf to 

 the end of October, and sometimes to the end of 

 November. 



When the leaves begin to fall, take a soft broom, 

 and brush it gently over the branches of the trees, 

 in order to take off" as many of the leaves as you 

 can, without hurting the buds. Remember, how- 

 ever, to brush upward ; for if you brush downward 

 you will be very liable to break the buds. 



* That is, let the middle of the branch run in, be on the out- 

 side of the shoot that you wish to preserve, and the ends tucked 

 under the two adjoining branches. After the fall of the leaf it 

 will be necessary to take out these loose branches ; which will 

 give the shoots more liberty, and admit the sun and air to ripen 

 the wood before the Spring pruning. 



