148 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



ever, however, a tree resists this care, it will be 

 found that it suffers from some serious cause. The 

 roots should be carefully examined, and if un- 

 healthy, the tree should be at once removed, and 

 another young one brought forward from the 

 reserved stock. A few trees thus reserved will 

 save much annoyance. Overcrowding is a fertile 

 cause of the trees becoming shapeless and unpro- 

 ductive. In general, also, sufficient attention is 

 not given to selecting handsome and regular shapes 

 for potted trees. 



The advice of some experienced person is of 

 great use in the disposition of the trees in an 

 orchard-house. The variety of forms and climates 

 precludes any general rule in this matter, and 

 doubtless, we have all very much to learn in this 

 respect. We have started from a good and tried 

 basis, however, and may experimentalise without 

 serious risk. The mere beginner, however, had 

 better be cautious, and secure the soundest advice 

 within his reach ; at least, in such important points 

 as the best shape and situation for his new house, 

 and the selection, and disposition of the trees 

 within it. 



If the summer-stopping of the shoots be both 

 easy to describe and to perform, the same cannot 

 be said of the winter pruning In this case there 

 is no better way than to have recourse to our classi- 



