126 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



pruning, but there need be few, because such 

 shoots as show this disposition could be very closely 

 stopped to two leaves, and so become short spurs. 



Young trees under this system, should only have 

 their first year's shoots equalised at 6 or 8 inches. 

 At the first winter's pruning these shoots should 

 be cut in to two good eyes, thus forming a short 

 shoot, which eventually becomes the spur. The 

 next summer each of these two buds puts forth a 

 shoot, which is then ready to be manipulated to 

 four leaves, to two, and to one leaf. 



Beyond equalising the branches, and directing 

 them into the proposed shape, no further shorten- 

 ing of the branches takes place. Blank spaces 

 are filled in by grafting by herbaceous approach, 

 or by budding. 



Under long pruning the leading branches were 

 excessively shortened, thus throwing the shoots 

 out into corresponding length. The modern style, 

 on the contrary, allows the branches to remain at 

 full length, merely suppressing any rampant 

 growth, and equalising all the parts, while the 

 shoots are closely pruned to concentrate the sap 

 instead of dispersing it. To closely prune the 

 shoots, and, at the same time, reduce the length of 

 the leading branches, would be to dwarf the tree ; 

 but to allow the growth to take place only where 

 it is required, is evidently the natural way. Any 



