THE PEACH AND NECTARINE. 



173 



in connection with the base a, b, c, and they 

 may be distributed over the space of wall from 

 a to d, the latter being trained closer to e, so 

 that between these two an intermediate branch 

 may not be required ; then, if e and / be sub- 

 divided, there will only be five branches in con- 

 nection with the base d, e, /, instead of six, as 

 in the case of the base a, b, c. This will give 

 the latter considerable advantage ; and, with the 

 other means already detailed, an equality of 

 vigour as regards the first two subdivisions of 

 the tree may be maintained, whilst the symmetry 

 of the whole is also preserved. What has been 

 said of the branches on the one side of the tree 

 applies, of course, to the corresponding ones on 

 the other side. 



With regard to the direction of the branches, 

 it may be as well to point out how they may be 

 laid off so as to present a regular appearance, 

 without being too crowded in some places and ' 

 too thin in others, as well as to prevent loss of 

 time in rectifying errors which may easily be 

 avoided in the beginning. 



The system Vhich has been detailed gives two 

 principal branches, from near the base of each of 

 which three branches are originated, and these 

 are each subdivided into three; so that the 

 leading branches of the tree consist of nine 

 branches on each side, or eighteen in all. 

 They form angles of about 9 J° with each other. 

 Now, if they were laid off at this angle, like 

 the radii of a semicircle, there would be nine 

 branches on each side and one perpendicular in 

 the centre — a position which, in fan-training, 

 no principal branch should occupy, as it is then 

 apt to grow too strong. It is therefore better 

 to be without it, as in fig. 975, in which two 

 spaces are left between i and Jc; then eight more 

 branches bring us down to a, which is elevated 

 5° above the line passing horizontally through 

 the central point, and this elevation is an ad- 

 vantage to the lower branches. 



From the principal branches shoots for bear- 

 ing should be allowed to proceed, and also for 

 subsidiary branches, where space admits of 

 such. In order to maintain a symmetrical tree, 

 these smaller shoots and branches should start 

 from the upper side of the main branches. In 

 our climate, the extremities of the shoots do 

 not usually become perfectly ripened, and this 

 is one reason why they should generally be 

 more or less shortened back. In doing this it 

 is best to cut to a bud situated at the back of 

 the branch, or nearly so, for if cut to one at 

 either side, the young shoot forms a bend from 

 where it proceeds, and if cut to a bud in front, 



it curves outwards; but when cut to a bud on 

 the side next the wall, the branch grows quite 

 straight. 



Pruning. — The directions for pruning the 

 Peach-tree will be easily comprehended on 

 reference to figs. 971 and 972. In fig. 972 the 

 buds marked a are leaf-buds, and all the others 

 flower-buds. In fig. 971 we have two single 

 leaf-buds near the base of the shoot.; then a 

 twin-bud, consisting of a leaf-bud and a flower- 

 bud; next a single leaf -bud; then a triple bud, 

 composed of two flower-buds and a leaf-bud in 

 the centre; then a single flower -bud; and, 

 finally, two flower-buds, with a leaf-bud between 

 them, above which the shoot is cut. It would 

 be wrong to cut to the next lower joint, or 

 immediately above the single flower-bud a, for 

 that bud would not produce a shoot, and the 

 branch would ultimately die back to the next 

 leaf -bud. In fig. 972 there are only two leaf- 

 buds; one, which forms the growing point or 

 apex, situated in the midst of a cluster of 

 flower -buds; the other near the base of the 

 shoot. Therefore, in such cases, the shoot must 

 either be left at all its length, or cut back above 

 the leaf-bud at the base. The latter is generally 

 the preferable mode, for a succession shoot 

 would be obtained; whereas, if not so cut back, 

 the whole would be naked in the following 

 year, with the exception of a slight elongation 

 of the growing point. 



In the Peach-tree, all wood that is more 

 than one year old serves only to support shoots 

 that do or may bear fruit; but enough of main 

 branches, and others subsidiary to them, should 

 be provided for, in order that a sufficiency of 

 bearing- shoots in every part of the tree may 

 be ensured. 



From what has been stated, it is presumed 

 that the training of the main branches of the 

 tree, and also the subsidiary ones, will be under- 

 stood. The manage- 

 ment of the bearing- 

 shoots, and of those 

 intended to form a 

 succession to them, 

 remains to be con- 

 sidered. 



In fig. 976, a re- 

 presents a portion of 

 a branch before the winter-pruning ; b and c are 

 bearing shoots, which were shortened at the pre- 

 vious winter-pruning, bore fruit in the following 

 summer, and also produced the shoots d and 

 e for succession. The shoots b and c having 

 once borne, will do so no more, and therefore 



Fig. 976.— Peach. Pruning. 



