Gardening for Amateurs 



Taking an average it will be found that each 

 of last year's shoots bears at least a dozen 

 small growths in spring. These have to be 

 reduced to three on each shoot, one at the 

 base and one in the middle (both on the 

 upper side of the shoot) and one at the apex. 

 They will be ample to furnish the tree and to 

 provide the fruiting wood of next year. 

 Disbudding should take place on three 

 occasions, ten days intervening between 



to make provision for protecting the blossom. 

 The simplest and most economical way of 

 doing this is to suspend over the tree at night 

 when frost is anticipated a herring net of 

 double or treble thickness. It should be 

 taken off in the day time when the weather 

 is fine, but in very cold, dull weather it will 

 do no harm if left on for two or three days. 



Thinning the Fruits. It frequently hap- 

 pens that far more fruits set than the tree 



Peach Royal George 



each. It is often found that two young 

 shoots are sufficient to leave on each stem. 



The two or three shoots left on each 

 stem after disbudding will produce lateral 

 or side shoots during the summer. These 

 should be cut off close as they appear, 

 or the tree will become overcrowded. In 

 early autumn the shoots that have fruited 

 are cut out and the fresh ones tied in. 

 Sometimes it is found that there are more 

 branches than can be nailed to the wall 

 conveniently. In that case the weakest 

 should be cut out. The others must not be 

 shortened. As the Peach blossoms at the end 

 of March and early in April, it is necessary 



can mature properly. As soon as they are 

 as large as Peas reduce the number 011 each 

 shoot to three by rubbing off the smallest 

 and weakest. By the time the fruits have 

 attained the size of a Cob Nut they go 

 through the process of stoning. As soon as 

 the stones are properly formed, at the end 

 of about three weeks, then it is necessary to 

 determine how many fruits shall be allowed 

 to remain. The number allowed will depend 

 a little on the health and strength of the 

 tree, but, speaking generally, one fruit to 

 the square foot of space is the proper number. 

 In late summer when the fruit begins to 

 colour it should be exposed to full light and 



