THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 1 49 



trained trees is hastened by pinching the top of the 

 iirst year's growth from the bud after it attains a length 

 of two or three inches. This forces the production of 



Fig. 15. 



f 



young laterals, which are thinned out to a central growth, 

 and two laterals, one on each side. 



In producing standard trees, the treatment of the 

 stocks is precisely the same as that pursued in the case 

 of dwarfs up to the time for budding, when, instead of 

 using the peach or nectarine bud, a well-developed bud 

 of some variety of plum is inserted at the base of the 

 stock as close to the ground as practicable for the sake 

 of neatness in the future stem. The following year the 

 stock is cut back to the bud, and all growths are rubbed 

 off, excepting the produce of the inserted bud, which 

 under favourable circumstances rapidly attains the 

 desired height. The following year the stems are budded 

 with the peaches and nectarines, and in due course 

 transplanted on walls and fences. This double budding 

 produces a much finer and earlier growth for forming 

 standards with stems from 4 to 5 feet high. Long ob- 

 servation and experience have taught Mr Pitman that 

 certain varieties thrive and grow much better on one 

 stock than on another. The following varieties succeed 

 best on the Mussel plum : — 



