116 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



suppressed, and the central wood-bud of this group 

 is allowed to extend. Thus a new shoot is obtained, 

 not so well placed as the others, but still near 

 enough to produce. 



The general run of shoots may be said to be 

 pinched-in to two well-developed leaves. The 

 two or three small leaves which are seen lower 

 down on the shoot, having no buds in their axils, 

 do not count. This first pinching-in to two leaves 

 generally takes place in May, the time being 

 regulated, however, by the season and the locality, 

 and is done as soon as the shoots have made about 

 four inches of growth. The second pinching takes 

 place as soon as the second growth, which springs 

 from the axils of the two leaves first operated on, 

 is about two inches in length, and is described by 

 writers treating of M. Grin's system, as leaving 

 untouched the first leaf, or even the first pair of 

 leaves when they spring together, of the second 

 growth — that is to say, that the second pinching 

 is to one more leaf. M. Grin, however, repu- 

 diates this plan ; and expressly states, that he has 

 made many trials, and that if even one leaf be left 

 at the second pinching, the second growth being 

 vertical, and made at the moment of the strongest 

 summer sap, its strength is such that a strong 

 shoot is the result, which prejudices the develop- 

 ment and maturity of next year's crop. 



