62 OF PEACHES. 



would not ripen, off the wood fit to bear the 

 following year ; taking care, however, to keep 

 the fruit shaded ; and never suffer the leaves to 

 be picked off till the fruit be grown to its full 

 size : then begin to take off some of them, to 

 let the fruit attain its natural colour. This may 

 be done once a week, in a gradual manner ; by 

 which method the fruit will continue much longer 

 in succession, than if the leaves were picked 

 off all at once : in the latter case, the fruit all 

 ripens at the same time ; but, by thinning at 

 different times, there will be a regular succession 

 for the table. 



It is a bad practice to pick off the leaves of 

 peaches before the fruit is grown to its natural 

 size. The shade of the leaves nourishes the fruit 

 very much ; and if you observe, wherever the 

 leaves are picked off the fruit will be small, 

 stunted, and ill-flavoured. Remember to hang 

 up the bean-stalk (as hereafter described) before 

 the fruit begins to ripen, in order to get rid of 

 the ear-wigs, &c. otherwise they will greatly 

 injure the Peaches. — [See the Chapter on In- 

 sects.] 



I would recommend planting some trees of the 

 early Peaches against East or North walls ; for, 

 by so doing, you will have a regular succession 

 of fine Peaches till the late sorts, against the 

 South and West walls, come in ; but never plant 

 late sorts on a North or East wall. You may 

 plant Peaches between Pears and Plums till they 



