130 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



shoots growing at the sides of last year's growth. Select 

 two of these young shoots growing as near the base of 

 last year's growths as possible one on each side for 

 retaining to grow to form future bearing wood. Some 

 growers only retain one young shoot, but it is usually 

 wiser to retain two. When, however, it is seen which of 

 the two shoots is going to take the lead, the other may 

 be removed. Now, by means of the finger and thumb, or 

 the point of a budding-knife, remove all other young 

 shoots gradually until you get to the one at the extremity ; 

 retain this. 



Fig, 47. TRAINING NECTARINES AND PEACHES. 



(A) Main branch. (B) Fruiting: shoot of previous year's growth. (C) New 

 shoot growing- at base of the latter and which must be retained to bear fruit 

 the next season. After fruiting-, B should be cut away. 



Treat each of the previous year's shoots in the same 

 way, then the tree is not unduly overcrowded in fact, it 

 is furnished with the requisite number of young shoots 

 that, when ripened, will bear fruit the following year. 

 The shoot left at the extremity of the bearing growth 

 will, when it has made about four leaves, require to have 

 its point removed " stopped "at the third leaf. Bear 

 in mind that this disbudding should be commenced when 

 the fruit. has set, and then only by degrees, so that no 

 check is given to the development of the young growth 

 by the wholesale removal of shoots at one time. (See Figs. 

 46 and 47.) 



