THE PEACH. 4&9 



In transplanting for an orchard, the practice of shortening- 

 in the shoots, described in the chapter on transplanting, 

 should be invariably attended to, as it is of the greatest 

 importance for the safe removal of peach-trees. Trees two 

 years from the bud were formerly recommended, but only 

 yearlings are now bought by good growers. Twenty 

 feet apart is the common distance for orchards ; but as bet- 

 ter crops and better fruit is obtained where the heads are 

 kept well shortened-in, and consequently within less com- 

 pass, a distance of twelve or fifteen feet only will be found 

 sufficient. 



While the trees are small, the intermediate spaces between 

 the rows may be cultivated with low-hoed crops; but after- 

 ward it will be found best to keep the ground perfectly clean 

 and mellow by ploughing and harrowing. Where soils are 

 very shallow, top-dressing with manure in autumn and fre- 

 quent harrowing have been found best ; the roots being thus 

 brought near the surface, deep ploughing proves injurious. 

 But where soils are deep and fertile, ploughing may be occa- 

 sionally resorted to without injury. 



The principle on which rotation in crops is founded dictates 

 that two crops of peach trees, whether in the nursery or 

 orchard, should not be grown successively on the same piece 

 of ground ; diminished growth in nearly all instances being 

 the result. 



One of the best manures for the peach-tree is wood ashes, 

 whether fresh or leached ; hence all composts with this mate- 

 rial are eminently beneficial to peach orchards. When applied 

 alone, half a peck of fresh and half a bushel of leached ashes 

 to each tree are suitable quantities, spread broadcast over 

 the surface. 



The mode of pruning and shortening-in the peach has been 

 already described in a previous chapter. 



Training the peach against walls and buildings, so essential to 

 the successful culture of the peach in England, is rarely prac- 

 tised in this country. It would doubtless hasten the maturity 

 of the crop; but the warm exposure would at the same time, 

 unless the branches were purposely protected, render the 

 crop more liable to destruction by frost. Espalier training 

 has been found to give excellent fruit, in consequence of the 



