452 



THE PEACH GARDENS OF MONTREUIli. 



four to five hundred, and this without injuring the tree in 

 the least degree. As to the pinching of the summer shoots 

 after they are laid in, it is done according to their strength; 

 hut the greater number are pinched at from six to ten 

 inches, and the lateral branches that spring from these are 

 of course pinched also, while weak shortish branches are 

 allowed to grow to their full extension. The pruning is 

 distinct from ours in this : it is done on fiie spur, and not 

 on the cutting-out principle. We generally leave the shoots 



Fig. 265. 



Fig. 266. 



Mode of Pruning to cover bare 

 spaces on the branches of 

 Peach trees, first year. The 

 shoots arising from the buds 

 A, B, C, and D are allowed 

 to grow freely, and are nailed 

 in during the summer. 



Result of preceding operation, second year. 

 A, B, C, D are the shoots developed from 

 the buds to which the same letters refer in 

 the preceding figure. This figure shows 

 the appearance of the branches before the 

 pruning. 



of the past year long, and cut away a good deal of the old 

 wood ; here the branches are conducted in straight lines 

 and regularly spurred in every year, fruit and wood buds 

 being left at the base according to the judgment of the 

 cultivator. The wood of the current year is laid in against 

 the wall with nails and shreds just in our own way, only 

 thicker, as of course must be the case when a close array of 

 spurs along each shoot has to be obtained. There can be 



