120 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



proved, and reported on ; and the general public, 

 having neither time nor inclination to examine for 

 itself, can securely receive this report on the good 

 faith of those who are able and willing to attempt 

 it. It is not always, it is true, that the time, the 

 labour, and the money spent in such trials are 

 repaid, but in any case the public is the gainer. 

 In examining, then, the merits of the original 

 system of close pruning, it may not be out of place 

 again to repeat, that at least ten seasons were 

 devoted to giving it a fair trial, and to modifying 

 it. During this period it was taught by me to 

 others, who largely adopted it, and whose gardens 

 and orchard-houses (in some cases of no small 

 importance) sufficiently attest to the completeness 

 and success of the method. 



In considering the original system, we notice, 

 at the outset, that the first growth of the year is 

 stopped, in the ordinary run of shoots, at two full- 

 sized leaves. The result always is, that the buds 

 in the axils of these two leaves burst into a rapid 

 second growth, which is as suddenly closely sup- 

 pressed, and it follows that all the fruit-bucls, and 

 also the few intermingled wood-buds, are formed 

 at the point of junction of these two growths. 



Though valuable groups are thus produced, 

 which, in the dry, sunny, and manageable climate 

 of the orchard-house are just what we require, still 



