104 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



but it has not produced flower-buds. It would 

 have grown freely, and so has been stopped at 

 about two leaves beyond the first stopping ; and, 

 again, for the third time, at one leaf; still it is 

 growing, and it is no matter, for our lower buds 

 are well constituted. The tree suffered also from 

 insects, and will benefit by more growth during 

 the rest of the autumn. Probably M. Grin would 

 cut back, at the winter pruning, to the first pair of 

 buds at the base ; but I have found it well to have 

 plenty of shoots to select from. I should, there- 

 fore, cut back only to a, above the beautiful triple 

 group there. This group having a central leaf- 

 bud will be sure to extend. Should any fruit 

 appear on this group it might be left on, if so 

 desired, and the leaves beyond the fruit reduced to 

 two or three. The pair of buds at the base may 

 become " May clusters " by this process, which, 

 indeed, is the principal aim of very close pruning. 

 Nothing can be more successful than the produc- 

 tion of this class of shoot, especially in pairs. 

 Should, however, these buds at the base extend, 

 they will very likely become fruit-bearers of class 

 2. As soon as the group at a has borne its fruit, 

 it should be completely cut out. By this time the 

 eyes at the base will have become strong, and will 

 be ready to take the place, in some shape or other, 

 of the group removed. At d, we see a group of 



