25O THE FRUIT GARDEN. [AUG. 



August 



Of closely training in the summer shoots of Wall-Trees. 



APRICOTS, nectarines, peaches and plums, will 

 now be fast approaching to maturity. In order that 

 the fruit may be exposed to the full sun, let the 

 shoots in training be carefully dressed to the wall or 

 rail. This is a matter too little attended to ; but it 

 is of much importance in the production of high- 

 flavoured fruit. 



To what purpose do we plant these trees against 

 walls, if we suffer the fruit to be shaded, in ripen- 

 ing, by the whole summer foliage, a thing not at all 

 uncommon ? Might they not as well be standing in 

 the open ground ? My practice has been, not only 

 to dress the shoots in training closely to the walls, 

 but to prune off all superfluous growth ; and as the 

 fruit begin to colour, to pick off every leaf that may 

 overhang them. Thus very much enhancing their 

 beauty and flavour. 



But it is necessary, on another account, to dress 

 all shoots of these trees closely to the wall at this 

 time, and to continue doing so while they continue 

 growing, even to the latest, and after all the fruit is 



