90 



THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



necessary by pinching off the succulent points, 

 generally to the length of two or three inches. 

 Spurs, which lie close to the wall, are thus made, 

 upon which numerous blossom-buds form very 

 early in the ensuing summer ; and upon which, 

 after most unfavourable seasons, and in situations 

 so high and cold, that the Peach tree in the most 

 favourable seasons had usually produced only a 

 few feeble blossoms, I observed as strong and 

 vigorous blossoms as I usually have seen in the 

 best situations and seasons, and I am quite con- 

 fident that had the Peach trees in gardens round 

 the metropolis been pruned in the manner above 

 described — that is, upon spurs, in the last season — 

 abundant and vigorous blossoms would have ap- 

 peared in the spring." 



Mr. Knight then proceeds to recommend a 

 mixed system of long and close pruning, which, 

 when judiciously carried out, is very successful. 

 It indeed requires some experience in the selection 

 of the proper class of shoot. Mr. Knight seems 

 to be disposed, however, not to trust the whole 

 crop on spurs formed by close summer pruning. 

 In " warm situations," the ordinary long pruning, 

 he says, may answer ; but " in cold and late situa- 

 tions then try the spur method. A mixture of 

 both modes, in every situation, will generally be 

 found to multiply the chances of success, and, 



