86 ' THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



suppose A and b to make a good summer growth, 

 and to have been stopped at 12 inches, as seen in 

 fig. 11, and then to have made an additional second 

 growth, which is only of use so far as it occupies 

 the superabundant sap. During the season they 

 will have been secured to the wall, avoiding en- 

 closing any leaves, at the proper angle, and if 

 weak it is proper to raise them somewhat more. 

 At the winter pruning, when the leaves have 

 dropped, they will look much like fig. 11. e re- 

 presents the original shoot, now called a spur. 



It will now be proper to consider which shoot 

 should be preserved long for fruit, and which cut 

 back for a replacing shoot. In fig. 12 it is sup- 

 posed that b has been found, by reason of its 

 groups of triple buds, to be the best, and therefore 

 it is cut down to above the second group of triple 

 buds. Many pruners, however, would have left it 

 half as long again. Some retain thereby space for 

 a couple of fruit. This may be done when there 

 is generally little fruit on the tree, or if the tree 

 have few shoots, a is cut down to two good wood- 

 buds for a succession ; the long shoot b is attached 

 closely to the wall at rather an acute angle with 

 the branch. The spur e continues to preserve its 

 original form. These simple operations complete 

 the year's work ; great care having been taken, by 

 syringing copiously, &c, the leaves during the 



