PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 231 



Upon those shoots of the last year's wood 

 which are from six to fourteen inches long 

 the lowest and uppermost new shoots, as 

 Fig. 4. a, b, must be trained to the wall, all 

 the intermediate ones that were retained on 

 account of having fruit at their bases, as c, c, 

 must now be shortened down so as to leave 

 three eyes remaining upon each, as d. If those 

 shoots had been shortened earlier than this 

 time, the fruit at their bases would not have 

 stoned so well, and a great many would 

 have dropped off: but being left until the 

 stoning is effected, they greatly assist in that 

 operation, and by shortening the shoots 

 after the fruit is stoned, the sap is diverted 

 into it and contributes to increase its size. 

 Those shoots of the last year's wood which 

 are upwards of fourteen inches in length 

 must have (in addition to the lowest and 

 uppermost shoots) another retained about 

 the middle, as e. Those shoots of the last 

 year's wood which are only five inches or 

 less in length and that had only one shoot 

 retained, as Fig. 3. f, must have it trained in ; 

 but such of them as had fruit upon them, as 

 Fig. 4. g, and whose shoots were on that 

 account retained at the first ' dressing, must 

 have the lowest shoot trained in at full 

 length, and the uppermost one, h, must be 

 pruned back so as to leave it about three 

 inches long, and be trained to the wall ; any 

 intermediate ones, as g, g, must be cut down 



