SPECIAL CULTtJEE. 151 



as before, the proper equilibrium of sap flow, and uni- 

 formity of size, by pinching in the buds, or raising or 

 lowering the branches, as occasion may require. At the 

 end of the second year, the tree will present the appear- 

 ance of figure 23. 



The stem will be quite stout, and the wood of the 

 branches will be solid and mature ; and some, perhaps 

 many, fruit-buds will show themselves. These should be 

 rubbed off, except a few on the thriftiest twigs, which 

 may be left to fruit. But as the tree is now entering upon 

 a new stage of existence, care must be exercised that it 

 does not overbear ; for if it 

 does, it will probably be 

 gi-eatly stunted in its growth, 

 and its capacity to produce 

 regular crops of fine, rich 

 fruit, greatly impaired, if not 

 wholly destroyed. The quan- 

 tity a tree, three years old, 

 may safely bear, will, in some 



-IT .. Fig. !i3. — END OF SECOND TEAR. 



manner, depend upon its 



size and vigor. A very strong, healthy tree, of large 

 growth, may bear, perhaps, fifty peaches, without injury, 

 while a dozen would be quite enough on one of a small 

 size, or more delicate variety. In any case, the thinning 

 out should be done in the hud, as the development of 

 blossoms and growth of fruit are very exhaustive. 



With the first flow of sap, the third spring, the tree is 

 to be again pruned; and this is done by cutting down 

 the last season's growth of the main stem to two buds on 

 each side, as at the first ; and the last year's growth of 

 the lateral branches is to be cut in one-half, as indicated 

 in the cross-lines in figure 23. 



The tree has now had three years' growth, and still an- 

 other is necessary to complete it ; but the process is sim- 

 ply a repetition of that already described — a continuation 



