THEORY OF CLOSE PRUNING. 



91 



therefore, neither ought to be exclusively adopted 

 nor rejected in any situation." This is sound and 

 practical counsel, and comes from an excellent 

 authority ; and Mcintosh, alluding to these re- 

 marks, says of them, that they are " well worthy 

 of the attention of Peach-growers in all situations, 

 even in favourable localities, but especially so in 

 cold and late ones." 



Since these opinions were published, Peach- 

 pruning has considerably advanced, and it is not 

 too much to assert that orchard- houses have re- 

 volutionised the whole system. A similar change 

 seems to be imminent in France and elsewhere. 



In France, especially, close pruning has, at 

 present, numerous advocates. Though, as we 

 have seen, this system is only a revival, there is no 

 doubt that the Imperial Society of Horticulture of 

 France is justified, in its report of 1862, in speaking 

 as follows : — " We must leave to M. Grin, of 

 Chartres, the honour of having at least popularised 

 the original idea ; a fact which has the real merit 

 of a veritable initiative." Speaking of close 

 pruning, Professor Dubreuil says — 44 1 saw in M. 

 Grins gardens such excellent results from this 

 method, that I hesitate not at present to recommend 

 it to the exclusion of every other." In Professor 

 Gressent's late work (which has the sanction of 

 the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce), it 



