38 On training the Peach Tree. 



fan manner, but found the lower branches to become soon weak, 

 and, in a few years, to decay altogether, leaving the under 

 parts of the wall naked and unsightly; and, in such cases, re- 

 planting after eight or ten years became necessary. But this 

 was not a decay from age ; it was produced by the lower branches 

 having been laid at a less angle than others, which deprived them 

 of their due proportion of sap. While striving to obviate this 

 difficulty, I was struck with the form of the lower branches of 

 some large elms, which, though they projected ever so far ho- 

 rizontally, still had their extremities always inclined upwards. 



Taking these branches for my guide, I altered my mode of 

 training, and, by turning up the extremities of the branches*, 

 so as to give to all an equal inclination and equal curvature, 

 convex towards the horizontal line of the earth, I was enabled 

 to maintain all parts of the tree in equal vigour. This mode of 

 training has continued to be my practice upwards of thirty years, 

 and, under it, the trees have grown to a large size, and have 

 continued in a full state of health to a considerable age. 



Mr. Knight has observed " that each variety of the apple tree 

 has its own peculiar form of growth, and this it will ultimately 

 assume, in a considerable degree, in defiance of the art of the 

 pruner." This observation is most correct with regard to all 

 standard fruit trees, and it is in some measure applicable to those 

 trained against walls. We may see a whole tribe of plants with 

 a tendency to assume some decided form, and again, in the va- 

 rieties, marks of slight variation ; yet all this is totally disregarded 

 in a tree placed against a wall; its branches are then compelled 

 by shreds and nails to follow a course forced upon them by the 

 often capricious will of the gardener. But Nature, though she 

 appears to be awhile submissive, soon tires of undue restraint, 

 and sickness and disease in the trees are the inevitable conse- 

 quences of forcing her to abandon her accustomed habits. 



The sketch herewith sent (Jig. 5.) is that of a white nectarine 

 tree, now growing in the gardens of the Honourable and Reverend 

 George Neville Grenville, at Butleigh : this will illustrate my 

 ideas of shape and form, and, from its age and size, your readers 

 will be enabled to form some estimate of the merits of the plan. 

 This tree was planted in 1810; it completely covers a wall of 

 ] 2 ft. high, and extends to 44 ft. in width ; its sides are of equal 

 strength, and the curvature of the branches gives it a pleasing 

 appearance. Its produce, when thinned to four fruit per square 

 foot, will be from about 150 to 180 dozen; a quantity not un- 

 usual for it to bear. 



I agree with Mr. Lindley [in his excellent Guide to the 

 Orchard and Kitchen Garden"] in recommending the annual 



* This seems to resemble Mr. Havward's mode of training peach trees. 

 See VIII. 653. 



