PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 229 



more as it is designed the tree shall finally 

 mature. ( See the Chapter on thinning of stone 

 fruit.) 



When the shoots have pushed about four 

 or five inches in length, let the trees be again 

 looked over, and if there be any strong lux- 

 uriant wood pushing forth, let such be taken 

 clean away, unless it be in a situation where 

 wood is desired, when in that case it must 

 be permitted to grow until it is about ten or 

 twelve inches long and then have the top 

 pinched off, which will cause lateral shoots 

 to push, this practice of obtaining wood in a 

 desired part may be performed upon any 

 strong shoots. The advantage of taking en- 

 tirely away at so early a season, such lux- 

 uriant shoots as are not wanted to remain, is 

 very great. For when they are retained 

 during the whole year, and then at winter 

 pruning are to be cut entirely away as is 

 the practice of many persons, a great portion 

 of sap is thus spent in a useless manner; 

 when by an early removal such loss would 

 have been prevented and the sap have been 

 usefully employed in strengthening the wood 

 and shoots which remain. It is a practice 

 too with many to encourage such luxuriant 

 shoots until about the middle of June and 

 then to cut them entirely away. Such a 

 practice is attended with very bad conse- 

 quences, for in the luxuriant shoot, the 

 tree found ready means to employ an over 



