PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 227 



be no fruit at the bases of the intermediate 

 shoots, they must all be rubbed off; but if it 

 should exceed fourteen inches, in addition to 

 the lowest and uppermost shoots, as c, d, an- 

 other must remain in the middle ase, although 

 it should not have fruit at its base. If there 

 be one (that has fruit at its base) situated 

 near the place desired, such a one must be 

 retained in preference to one that is destitute. 

 When a shoot of the last year's wood is only 

 five inches, or less in length, and has no fruit, 

 upon it, only leave the lowest shoot, as f, 

 rubbing off all others, as g, g, g; but if there 

 be fruit upon it, the lowest shoot and those 

 that have fruit at their bases must be re- 

 tained, and all others be rubbed off however 

 they may be situated. The necessity of pre- 

 serving a shoot at the full extent to which 

 the branch of last year's wood is furnished 

 with fruit, arises from the mode in which the 

 sap is distributed, this being found to be con- 

 ducted to all fruit and shoots so far as to the 

 uppermost shoot reserved. But on the other 

 hand, whatever fruit there may be above the 

 uppermost shoot retained, it will generally 

 drop off, because the shoot below it intercepts 

 the principal portion of that nourishment 

 which is required to the maturing of the fruit. 

 Also whatever sustenance is received to the 

 tree by the leaves of the new shoot, is con- 

 sumed partly by the said shoot and by the 



