234 TREATMENT OF THE 



When those shoots which are trained in, have 

 pushed so that they extend six or eight inches 

 from the wall, let them be regularly laid in 

 as before directed, taking care that they do 

 not crowd each other, which would prevent 

 the wood attaining to the maturity desired. 

 Peaches and Nectarines are greatly improved 

 in flavour by having the lull influence of 

 the sun upon them, therefore when the fruit 

 approaches a state of maturity if it be shaded 

 by leaves, let a few of those which hang 

 over it be pinched off; also in late and 

 cloudy seasons when the fruit does not ripen 

 well, if there be the aid of flues, a little fire 

 heat may be applied for a week or two which 

 will facilitate the ripening of the fruit and 

 improve its flavour. Fire heat is also some- 

 times required to be applied in autumn, es- 

 pecially in late seasons, in order to secure 

 good ripe wood and buds without \yhich 

 resource in cold exposed places, it would not 

 be obtained, the heat required for this pur- 

 pose should be about that of new milk, 

 and it may be continued for a few weeks, 

 beginning about the first of September. 

 Thinning away the leaves in autumn in 

 order to admit the sun and air to the buds 

 so that they are matured, is a very essential 

 part in the treatment of those kinds of trees. 

 ( See instructions in the Chapter on thinning the 

 leaves of fruit trees.) Remedies for those dis- 

 eases which attack the trees during summer, 



