THE GARDENER. 



61 



moved, then part of those elsewhere situated, making 

 exceptions of the lowest on each bearing shoot, for suc- 

 cession, and of the terminal one. By degrees all are re- 

 moved, excepting the two last mentioned and those from 

 nodes where fruit is set and promises to attain perfec- 

 tion. Finally, the terminal ones and those left on ac- 

 count of having fruit at their bases are shortened, or 

 stopped, to about three inches in length, or so as to have 

 several leaves for the purpose of maintaining the flow of 

 sap and elaborating it for the nourishment of the fruit. 

 Should these or the terminal shoots again push, such 

 secondary shoots must be pinched off above the second 

 leaf from the origin. 



Thinning thfe fruit is generally done much too spar- 

 ingly. The vigour of the tree should of course be 

 taken into consideration. As a general rule, one fruit 

 on each bearing shoot, or two at most, are all that 

 ought to be left. By leaving too many, the size of 

 the fruit is diminished, so that the aggregate weight of 

 flesh is probably but little if at all increased, whilst 

 that of stones, to the great weakening of the tree, be- 

 comes materially so. Some remove the flower-buds 

 to a considerable extent, a practice which is very pro- 

 per. It is advisable however to preserve several on 

 each shoot, in order that a choice may be made of one 

 or two of those likely to take the lead. 



The surface of the border should be frequently stir- 

 red ; and when the weather is dry, watering will be 

 necessary both for the border and foliage ; but thetuse 

 of cold spring water must be avoided. The ravages 

 of the green fly [Aphis Persicce) must be carefully 

 guarded against. The best known remedy is to dust 

 the tree, after syringing, with snufl", or pow^dered to- 

 bacco leaves. Coping-boards, made to project about 

 a foot, are of great utility in protecting the blossoms ; 

 but after the danger of frost is over, the coping ought 

 to be removed. 



