190 



THE PEACH AND NECTAUINE. 



The best season to bud will mostly be Jiily ; tie place for dwarfs 

 within 6iri. and ISru. of the ground. But for its being somewhat 

 more difficult, it would often be better to bud peaches and nectarines 

 close to the ground. The peach would thus be simply supported by the 

 roots of the stock, and escape the risks and weakness of the inter- 

 mediary stem of the stock. This often gets into a diseased and stunted 

 condition, partly through its not keeping pace with the growth of the 

 scion, and also from other causes, such as the leaving of no independent 

 branches, &c. By budding low (see Pigs. 8 and 9) all these risks and 

 causes of disease thaf originate in the stock would be got rid of. 



In the case of riders for furnishing the tops of walls, it is common to 

 bud at a height of from 4ft. to 6ft. (See Pigs. 10 and 11). The result is 



^ 



rio. 7. 



Eio. 6. 



Fig. 8. 



too often as seen in Pig. 6. These warty excrescences mostly become 

 . sources of weakness or the seat of disease. It is easy to avoid these by 

 the simple expedient of budding at the earth' s line, as with dwarfs, and 

 leading up the young peach shoot to the height required, as in Pig. 10. 

 The whole tree branches and stems are thus of one uniform quality and 

 character. There is no check to the flow of the sap by contracted sap 

 vessels or channels, consequently no extra deposit of living nor concen- 

 tration of dead matter in any part of the tree. Neither is there the 

 slightest practical difficulty in reaching the desired height by the peach 

 alone. Most peaches grow vigorously on suitable stocks and in proper 

 soils ; and the growth of the future stem of the tree from the bud 

 quickens and sustains the vigorous action of the loots, and, in fact, 

 lays the base of the futnre health of the tree. 



