PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 243 



wood, &c. let the branch be cut close to 

 a good lateral one, which may succeed it, 

 if there be not a good lateral situated as 

 desired, let the branch be cut clean out to 

 its origin, for when a bare stump is left 

 it is a very rare case that a shoot will push 

 from it, but it generally decays, and its inju- 

 rious effects spread to other parts of the tree. 

 Respecting the length of time a Peach or 

 Nectarine tree will continue to bear fruit, 

 it will be varied considerably, as the soil, 

 situation, and mode of pruning affect it. But 

 their declining state is generally indicated by 

 an arm or two dying for two or three suc- 

 cessive years. These defects will point out 

 the necessity of a succession. Though such 

 old trees may by proper pruning at the top, 

 to a lateral branch for a lead, dressing of the 

 roots, and replanting, be brought to a more 

 flourishing condition than before being taken 

 up, &c. yet they never do so well by a great 

 deal as young ones. And to have good 

 bearing young trees substituted in their 

 places is far preferable to the replanting and 

 otherwise treating old ones, because they 

 will cover the allotted space much sooner, 

 and produce much larger fruit. The method 

 which I practice is, when symptoms of a 

 general decay appear, I procure some young 

 maiden trees and place them in the spaces 

 betwixt the old trees, or against a good as- 

 pect in any other part of the garden. Tho$c 



