74 



THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



rience. It is here that the recorded opinions of 

 men eminent in their profession are valuable ; 

 for, though the Peach tree adapts itself to many 

 varying conditions of culture, there are certain 

 principles which should be ever kept in mind. 



Those who have seen the Peach-orchards of 

 the south of Europe, and of America, know how 

 little care is generally bestowed on them beyond 

 manuring the roots. In these favourable climates 

 standards three years old are laden with fruit. 

 They bear thus, exhaust themselves, and decay, 

 without more than a casual attention being paid to 

 them. This is culture reduced to its simplest ele- 

 ments; but even in such cases experience has 

 shown the value of some kind of pruning. This, 

 according to Downing, consists in cutting out one- 

 half of the shoots of last year's growth. The crop 

 is diminished by one -half, but the size of the re- 

 mainder is doubled. In the more northern States 

 espalier training is in vogue, requiring far more 

 care. The attention paid to Peach culture in 

 northern and mid-France equals that required in 

 England. Superb fruit is grown in America in 

 nearly every part, but in France only where 

 scientific training is employed ; for the standard- 

 grown Peaches of the southern districts are value- 

 less. In England, therefore, it is useless to expect 

 success without labour and skill, and foreigners do 



