ON THE PROPER MODE OF PRUNING THE PEACH-TREE. 227 



as in the preceding cases, except that the leaves, which are transmuted 

 into the calyx, separate at the base of the fruit and become deciduous, 

 instead of passing through and remaining a component part of it. 



Every bunch of grapes commences its formation as a tendril, and it is 

 always within the power of every cultivator to occasion it to remain a 

 tendril. The blossoms are all additions, the formation of which is always 

 dependent upon other agents : and if any considerable part of the leaves 

 be taken off the branch prematurely, or if the vine be not subjected to 

 the influence of the requisite degree of heat and light, the tendrils will 

 permanently retain their primary form and office ; and it is very 

 frequently observable, when much of the foliage of fruit-trees has been 

 destroyed by insects, or when the previous season has been cold and wet, 

 that blossoms are not formed at all, or are feeble and imperfect, and con- 

 sequently abortive. The state of the peach-trees and vines, in every part, 

 or nearly every part of the kingdom, in the present spring, has afforded, 

 I believe, more than sufficient evidence of the truth of the last position. 



It is, I conceive, quite unnecessary to adduce arguments to prove that 

 the buds, which are first formed in the spring, are most likely to undergo 

 properly the necessary internal changes of structure above-mentioned, 

 and consequently to afford more perfectly organised blossoms, than such 

 as are not formed before the middle of the summer, or till near the 

 approach of autumn ; and if this be admitted, it will not be difficult 

 to show, that the mode of pruning and training the peach-tree, which 

 has been uniformly recommended, and almost as uniformly practised, is 

 well adapted to favourable situations only. It has been derived from the 

 practice of the French gardeners, and is probably perfectly well suited 

 to the climate of Paris, but by no means so well calculated (I have, I 

 think, very good reason to believe) for the colder parts of England, as 

 that I proceed to describe and recommend. 



Every tree prepares in the summer and autumn many minute leaves, 

 which expand and form the early foliage of the following spring, and the 

 buds in the axillse of these leaves are necessarily (consistent with the 

 preceding statements,) those best calculated, in cold and unfavourable 

 situations and seasons, to generate well organised and vigorous blossoms; 

 and in such situations, I have often witnessed the advantage of preserving 

 as many as practicable of these, by deviating from the ordinary mode of 

 pruning the peach-tree. Instead of taking off so large a portion of the 

 young shoots, and training in a few only, to a considerable length, as is 

 usually done, and as I should myself do to a great extent, in the vicinity 

 of London, and in every favourable situation, I preserve a large number 



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