594 THE PEACH. 



time the interior of the tree is filled with long lean branches, 

 with only young shoots at their extremities. Any one can see 

 that such a tree can be provided with but half the number of 

 healthy strong shoots for bearing, that one would have if filled 

 throughout with vigorous young wood. The sap flows tardily 

 through the lonof and rio;id branches, and not half leaves enouoh 

 are provided to secure the proper growth of the fruit. And, 

 finally, all the fruit which the tree yields being allowed to remain 

 at the ends of the branches, they often break under its weight. 



Now, we propose to substitute for this, what is generally 

 known as the shorteninri-in system of pruning. We aflSnn, 

 both from its constant success abroad, and from our own expe- 

 rience and observation in this country, that putting its two dis- 

 eases out of the question (which we will presently show how to 

 avert), the peach may be continued in full vigour and produc- 

 tion in any good soil, for from ten to thirty years. 



Let us take a healthy tree in the orchard or garden, in its 

 first blossoming year. It is usually about 6 to 8 feet high, its 

 well-shaped head branching out about three feet* from the 

 ground. It has never yet been trimmed except to regulate any 

 deformity in its shape, and this is so much the better. 



At the end of February, or as early in the spring as may be, 

 we commence pruning. This consists only of shortening-in^ 

 i.e., cutting off" half the last year'^s growth over the whole out- 

 side of the head of the tree, and also upon the inner branches. 

 As the usual average growth is from one to two feet, we shall 

 necessarily take off" from six to twelve inches. It need not be 

 done with precise measurement ; indeed, the strongest shoots 

 should be shortened back most, in order to bring up the others, 

 and any long or projecting limbs that destroy the balance of the 

 head should be cut back to a uniform length. This brings the 

 tree into a well-rounded shape. By reducing the young wood 

 one half, we at the same moment reduce the coming crop one 

 half in number. The remaining half, receiving all the sus- 

 tenance of the tree, are of double the size. The young shoots, 

 which start out abundantly from every part of the tree, keep it 

 well supplied with bearing wood for the next year, while the 

 greater luxuriance and size of the foliage, as a necessary conse- 

 quence, produces larger and higher flavoured fruit.f Thus, 



* We think low heads much preferable to high ones on many accounts. 

 They shade the root, which insects are therefore much less liable to at- 

 tack, and they are more within reach both for pruning and gathering. 



f It is well, in shortening-back, to cut off the shoot close above a wood- 

 hud rather than a blossom-bud. Few persons are aware how much the 

 size and beauty of the fruit depends on the size and vigour of the leaves. 

 We have seen two peach trees of the same age side by side, one unpruned, 

 and the other regularly shortened-in, and both bearing about four bushels. 

 That of the latter was, however, of double the size, and incomparably 

 finer. 



