THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 159 



furnish fruit-bearing wood for the following j'^ear. This 

 operation should be begun early, as soon as the buds 

 have started. They should not all be removed at once, 

 but at three different intervals of time. At the first 

 disbudding remove those which are termed by gardeners 

 fore-right buds — that is, those that are on the front side 

 of the shoots and that would grow at a right angle from 

 the trellis — and those which are situated on the opposite 

 side of the shoot, thus leaving those that are right and 

 left. In about twelve or fourteen days after this, about 

 the half of those left should be removed at intervals 

 along the shoot, always leaving the best-looking two 

 buds near the base. The trees should be examined and 

 finally disbudded in about a week after, removing all 

 except the most promising bud near the base, which is 

 to form the chief growth for next year's fruiting. On 

 short stubby growths, this bottom bud and the terminal 

 one will be enough to leave. On longer shoots one or 

 two intermediate ones may be left if there is room 

 enough to tie them in without crowding the tree. But 

 always give the preference to the lowest-placed buds. 



In removing the last of the superfluous buds, when 

 they have got stronger than those taken off at the first 

 and second disbuddings, a thin sharp knife should be 

 used, as it makes a less and cleaner wound than when they 

 are detached by the hand. The leading shoot, if not 

 required to furnish the tree as in the case of young 

 trees, should be stopped when it has grown one foot ; 

 but allow the lateral growths for next year's fruiting 

 to grow their full length, and keep them regularly tied 

 to the trellis as they grow — using for this purpose soft 

 matting — taking care not to tie too tightly, but leaving 

 room suf&cient for the wood to swell. 



