64 



THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



some being much longer than the specimen se- 

 lected, and others having a bare portion below 

 them. All this arises from neglecting to observe 

 that there is no terminal leaf-bud, so that the shoot 

 is blind. 



These eight classes of shoots are all that we may 

 look to find in ordinary cases. Wherever there 

 seems any variation from them it is because they 

 are passing into another form ; but even this can 

 be readily recognised, and need not cause any per- 

 plexity. 1 and 4 are the only pure wood shoots, 

 for the others are more or less all fruit-bearing. It 

 is to be hoped that rules for pruning are simplified 

 by means of this classification. All may not be of 

 one mind as to these rules, but the general prin- 

 ciples here laid down were, of course, the first thing 

 requiring to be settled. It may be added here, 

 that/ perhaps the very best modern authorities on 

 these matters, have given their approval to this 

 arrangement of the shoots. One great difficulty 

 was to render appropriately the names by which 

 some are known on the continent ; another was 

 the want of precision in the current horticultural 

 terms. 



]N r o. 10. — Forms of Trees for Long Pruning. 

 On the question of form, there is not so much real 

 difference of opinion as to the most advantageous 



