THE PEACH AND NECTARINE 



105 



Packing the Fruit. — It is almost superfluous to remark that when peaches 

 have to be sent a long distance by road or rail they must be carefully packed. 

 How best to accomplish this work I will endeavour to show by detailing the 

 method practised successfully by me for a great number of years ; this plan 

 was subjected to a test which was as severe as one could wish, namely, the 

 journey from Windsor to Balmoral, about six hundred miles, yet I have no 



An Extension Branch 



(/) Extension shoot or continuation of branch, just the unripe point being short- 

 ened or cut off at winter pruning, as it is very important to retain only well- 

 matured, short-jointed wood ; the dotted lines indicate continuation growth 

 furnishing side shoots in following summer ; (m) side shoots from preceding 

 year's extension branch, properly shortened to 8 or not more than 12 inches ; 

 {«) natural spur on previous year's extension branch ; {0) pinched spur cut 

 back ; (/) bearing branch cut away after fruit gathered ; {g) successional 

 bearing shoot properly shortened; (r) point of cutting off a lateral. The 

 numerals refer to the age of the branch ; it will be noticed that the fruit is 

 produced on the wood of the preceding year's growth, older wood being 

 retained only to provide next year's bearing shoots and extension, the fruiting 

 wood is renewed annually. Spurs, or short stubby shoots, are not advisable 

 in the case of wall or trellis trees, though a few may be retained on the 

 extensions for bearing once, then cutting away. On bush, pyramid, and 

 standard trees, a larger number of spurs may be allowed. 



recollection of receiving a complaint of the fruit having arrived in a damaged 

 condition. When the grower knows that he has to send ripe peaches a long 

 way by rail he must give careful consideration to the varieties he grows, 

 as some travel much better than others. For instance, the early American 

 varieties, such as Alexander and Waterloo, and some others introduced of 

 late years, have skins so thin and easily bruised that it is absolutely im- 

 possible to send them any distance without their suffering damage. Again, 

 peaches having to travel should be gathered before they are quite ripe, say 



