Peach-growing at Montreuil. 191 



has a simple erect stem, from which straight branches are sent 

 out, but in an alternate manner, so that the branches of one tree 

 run between those of another. Occasionally, however, two main 

 stems are developed — one to each set of branches. The Pecker 

 en lyre, a very elegant form, is also to be found here, but 

 not to any extent. A form in the shape of a tall narrow U is 

 common. It is simple and readily made. There is also a variety 

 of it which we may call the double U, in which the two branches 

 are again branched, just as they arise from the horizontal, at say 

 about two feet from the centre of the tree ; and this too seems a 

 simple and good way of covering a wall with erect branches. The 

 palmette and the fan systems are the most appreciated for general 

 work. Much as these trees please when in full health and fruit, to 

 see them when in flower in spring must be much more beautiful. 



The reason why the peach is so successfully cultivated here is, it 

 appears to me, that the cultivators pay thorough and constant atten- 

 tion to its wants, with which a life-long experience has made them 

 familiar. They take great pains to have the sap equally distributed, 

 and succeed more perfectly than we do in that important point. 

 The trees are at all times well attended to. I believe that quite as 

 good and as certain results could be attained with the peach in 

 many of the southern parts of England and Ireland, particularly if 

 its culture were made a speciality of as it is in France. When 

 cultivators devote themselves entirely to a subject, they soon learn 

 all its wants, and moreover, attend to them at the right moment — 

 a great point. But it is very different with private gardeners gene- 

 rally, whose hands are so very full of other matters in spring and 

 early summer, a time when the peach requires much attention ; and 

 the result is, that it is too often neglected for a week or two at that 

 season, and the result is a loss of health to the trees. There does 

 not seem much help for this in private gardens, and the only hope 

 is that, by the cropping of the borders as elsewhere suggested, 

 gardeners generally may find it worth while to devote more atten- 

 tion to walls than they usually do. I think it a matter for regret 

 that public attention has been to some extent called away from the 



