162 



FRUITS. 



[chap. 



do this only in a case of necessity, because it will always remain 

 sterile below. 



236. Between the stone-fruits and the pip-fruits, there is a 

 great deal of diiference in the manner of bearing. The latter bear 

 on little branches of from two to three inches long, called spurs. 

 These are two or three years in forming, and they generally come 

 upon other small branches. The first year, a spur has three leaves, 

 the second, five, and the third, seven. The stone-fruits, as the 

 peach for instance, bear their fruit on branches of one year's 

 growth, which should, therefore, be shortened at every winter 

 pruning. The fruit-buds of these last are easily recognised. They 

 are round and ruddy, and garnished with a cotton envelope 

 whereas the wood-buds are, on the contrary, long and of a green 

 colour. 



237. Any form may be given to a tree, so that it be suited to 

 its nature, to the aspect, and to the soil. For instance, the luall- 

 tree is placed flat against a wall well exposed to the sun ; the 

 espalier y pyramidj hush, and dwarf trees, generally grafted on 

 stocks which yield but little sap, are placed in the borders of the 

 garden, and produce little shade, and require a less deep soil than 

 the standard or half-standard. The stocks on which it is proper 

 to graft these trees will be mentioned in the articles treating of 

 the particular manageinent of each. 



238. The French method of pruning, as practised at Mon- 

 treuil, is the best for the peach-tree. Andj as the peach-tree 

 is the most delicate, and the most diflicult to manage, I will 

 take it as the model of a good form, and I shall refer to this arti- 

 cle in speaking of other trained trees, which ought all to be pruned 

 in the same manner, wath the slight exceptions of keeping the 

 fruit-branches of the pip-fruits a longer time, because they do not 

 bear till about the second or third year, though they last much 

 longer ; and of leaving on these branches fewer wood-buds, be- 

 cause they are not wanted for such constant succession. These 

 differences will be treated of in the articles on each particular sort 

 of fruit. 



239. The wood-branches of the peach-tree are known by their 

 vigour, by their thickness, equal to, if not surpassing, that of the 

 little-finger ; by their length of from three to six feet ; and by their 

 bark, which is grey from the first year. The fruit-branches, at 

 most not larger than a large quill, are from six inches to two feet 



