No. 129.] 497 



worm sought after and destroyed ; three or four ■wheelbarrows 

 of rich compost may then be placed contiguous to each tree and 

 covered with earth to prevent the escape of ammonia and other 

 gases. In the month of February cut off many of the branches 

 that have borne fruit, as they never yield a second crop, and thus 

 throw the tree as much as possible into new wood for the suc- 

 ceeding year. 



When trees are selected from a nursery for orchard planting, 

 such as have a single strong clean stem that has been once headed 

 in should be chosen, as small stemmed trees produce weak shoots. 

 Shoots must not be allowed to grow long the first yearj they can 

 be pinched off with the fore finger and thumb early in the sea- 

 son — if left later it will cause wounds upon the tree to tear or 

 cut them. The second year you may top and prune the tree in 

 proportion to the strength of the stem, leaving the shoots from 

 nine to twelve inches long; the third year they may be allowed 

 to bear a few, and if the growth is vigorous, you may take off 

 some of the strong shoots, which will induce side shoots to grow 

 and make fine bearing wood for the ensuing year. If these are 

 permitted to grow their full length they will be spongy and in- 

 capable of producing fruit bearing wood. 



When weak trees are pruned they should never be cut at 

 single flower buds, if they are, the whole shoot will die. In 

 peach trees coming to the bearing state, you will invariably see 

 two flower buds close together, and in the centre between them, 

 a wood bud; this produces the shoot that yields fruit the follow- 

 ing year. Summer pruning should be constantly attended to as 

 all the side shoots, near the top of the tree, must be taken off 

 while tender ; if permitted to grow, they weaken the fruit bear- 

 ing branches for the next year. 



Borders for wall fruit should be made three feet deep and from 

 four to six feet wide, of good, lively, light, fresh loam, raised 

 from nine to twelve inches above the contiguous ground to allow 

 for settling ; when the tree is placed in the hole prepared for it, 

 fill all the interstices under and around the roots with the rich- 



[Assembly, No. 129.] 32 



