

VI. TRAINING AND PRUNING. 



243. Fifth Year.- Same operation ; but get a second 

 upper secondary branch, (plate 6. fig. 2. e.) 



> )jjpb; vr.* .' 



244. Sir</i Fear. Same operation. Third lower se- 

 condary branch j and, if the tree have been taken care 

 of, and its form have not been sacrificed to a too great 

 eagerness to get fruit quickly, the peach-tree is formed. 

 And if it have all the requisites, that is to say, health in 

 its nature, a good aspect, and suitable land, it ought to 

 extend to between twelve and twenty feet in length, and 

 eight in height over the surface of the wall. 



245. All trees will not so readily assume this form ; 

 therefore I will anticipate a few cases, and point out 

 the means of remedying the evil. Though a gardener, 

 thoroughly embued with these principles, and applying 

 them under all circumtsances, can never be in error. 



246. If the upper secondary branches, favoured by 

 their more perpendicular position, flourish at the expense 

 of the mother-branch, incline them downward, even, if 

 necessary, to touch the mother-branch, to re-establish the 

 equality. And you may also leave some fruit-buds to 

 slacken the sap ; and, at the time of nailing, shorten the 

 mother-branch at a strong wood-bud, whilst you take 

 care to prune at a weak one on the branch or branches 

 that you have lowered. In order that both the sides of 

 the tree may be alike, the corresponding secondary 

 branches, both upper and under, should be pruned at buds 

 of the same vigour and at the same height. The same 

 with regard to the mother-branches. 



