JAN.] PRUNING WALL-TREES. 197 



well be accounted a new method ; as it very nearly 

 approaches to what has long been termed, in this 

 country, the zad method of training. 



I have more than once trained the branches of a 

 peach-tree downwards, and to either side, as occasion 

 required, but could never discover better fruit on 

 the pendant, or horizontal shoots, than on those 

 trained upright, or fan wise. If there be a just rea- 

 son for training the shoots of any fruit-tree horizon- 

 tally, in my apprehension it is the pear, and that 

 chiefly on account of its natural luxuriance in good 

 soils. 



But it might be asked, what fruit-tree grows na- 

 turally in a horizontal manner? All, except the 

 vine perhaps, grow upright, or, more properly speak- 

 ing, in the fan manner ; spreading out their branches 

 on all sides. Surely none grow like the larch, or the 

 spruce ; and it has been a universal maxim of the 

 best horticulturists, to direct the cutting out of cross 

 wood, and to keep the tree moderately thin of 

 branches in the middle. 



Mr Knight, in speaking of training peaches, says, 

 " These shoots, our gardeners, from Langley to For- 

 syth, have directed to be shortened in summer, or 

 cut out in the succeeding spring ; but I have found 

 great advantage in leaving them wholly unshorten- 

 ed," &c. I have to regret, that Mr Knight does not 

 appear to have met with a book which I first pu- 

 blished in 1797, under the title of "The Scots For- 

 cing Gardener," in which, in treating of the train- 

 ing of peaches, I say, " Observe this practice (i. e. 

 shortening the shoots), till the trees have filled their 



