38 CORDON TRAINING. 



ascribes it to ignorance of common principles; 

 the trees round London, though numerous, being 

 quite " unproductive." 



The transition from this amusing prejudice 

 on the part of our Continental friends, to the 

 opinions of the Chinese respecting peaches, is 

 not so abrupt as may appear at first sight. The 

 ruddy and pointed peaches are considered, in 

 China, to be symbols of long life. They are in 

 consequence profusely used as ornaments on 

 their walls, and even on furniture. Porcelain 

 peaches are appropriate*j^resenjts on the New 

 Year. The peach has^alsoTthe valuable quality 

 of being an antidote against evil or low spirits ; 

 but the brown peach, though beautiful, is the 

 cause of sin and death. 



Probably some allusion is here meant to the 

 widespread tradition of Eve's offence ; more 

 especially, as one variety called " Yu " renders 

 the eater thereof immortal. So much for Orien- 

 tal opinions. With respect to details in peach 

 training, these have had the share of attention 

 from many quarters. But before entering into 

 them, I must quote Lindley's words respecting 

 the formation of flower and of leaf-buds ; which 

 are so explanative, and, I hope, agree so com- 

 pletely with what follows, that it will be useful 

 to record them here. ee Physiologists know that 

 whatever tends to cause a rapid diffusion of the 

 sap and secretions of any plant, causes also the 



