A YEAR'S GARDENING 



It is of the utmost importance that the training of a fruit tree be 

 attended to at the outset, as by this means may be 

 Training and obtained not only a well-developed fruit-bearing tree 

 """°^ in a short time, but also one which will continue to 



bear for twenty or thirty years. It has been asserted that it re- 

 quires seven years to produce a well-developed peach tree, but, in 

 reality, there is no doubt that with proper care and attention a good 

 fruit-bearing tree can be produced within four years from the planting 

 of the maiden stem, provided it be properly trained and pruned 

 from the beginning. 



As soon as the maiden stem begins to break into bud, watch how 

 it seems inclined to shoot. Some of the buds may be too weak and 

 some too strcaig, and there will probably be too many. Therefore 

 thin out, by rubbing off, those which are not required, retaining only 

 those which are of even growth and at fairly equal distances from each 

 other along the stem. When 3 or 4 inches of lateral growth have 

 appeared, stop each lateral by nipping. There will prot^ibly succeed 

 two other laterals, which will make equal progress and be fumi^ed 

 with fruit-buds by the following autumn. But it would be unwise, 

 at this stage, to allow the tree to continue the growth of all this wood, 

 and one of each of the double laterals should be cut back to a bud 

 within a few inches of the stem, while the other should be shortened 

 a little. Thus a tree capable of bearing fruit may be produced within 

 three years, but only a very few of the fruit ^ould be allowed to 

 ripen on so young a tree. 



It may happen that the tree is in a strong, rich soil, causing it to 

 grow too vigorously and to make too much wood. In such a case 

 it would be a mistake to cut it back ; let it bear aU the fruit it can 

 for a season, and thus tame down its tendency to an over-growth of 

 wood. Such a plan is excellent for checking rank growth — ^better 

 even than lifting. On the other hand, if the tree be growing in poor, 

 light soil, the buds may be weak and the laterals wanting in vigour. 

 If so, cut all the laterals back to a bud within a few inches of 

 the stem, and the following season there will be two laterals from 

 each spur. 



Having by these means obtained a well-developed tree of good 

 fruit-beaiing capacity, its constitution and diaracter may be main- 

 tained by cutting back every season, as far as the first bud from the 

 stem, one of the double laterals aU through the tree, by which means 

 a new lateral will be provided each year emd the tree remain sound 

 and productive throughout its hfe. 



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