138 



FRUIT TREES. 



the pear (fig. 84, p. 96), the only difference being that 

 in the pear the side branches are trained twelve inches 

 apart, while the side branches of the peach must be 

 from 20 to 24 inches apart, in order to allow sufficient 

 space for nailing up the lateral shoots during the 

 summer. Besides this, all the branches of the peach, 

 both the main stem and side branches, are furnished 

 on each of their sides with fruit-branches, about four 

 inches apart. 



The trees must be planted at such distances as to 

 cover a medium surface of about 20 square yards of the 

 wall. Thus, for a wall three and a half feet high, it 

 will be necessary to plant about six yards apart. 



First Pruning, — Pears, and other trees of the same 

 species, ought not to receive their first pruning until 

 they have struck root, that is, about a year after 

 planting ; the peach, however, must be pruned the 

 same year that it is planted, otherwise the buds at the 

 base of the stem which should be developed into shoota 

 would be completely withered by the following year. 



The first pruning has for its object to develop 

 towards the base of the tree the first two side branches, 

 and to obtain a new extension of the stem. To effect 

 this, select two lateral buds, B (fig. 114), situate about 

 twelve inches from the ground. Also the bud A above 

 and in front ; it is immediately above this latter bud, 

 at the point D, that the stem must be cut. The buds 

 B are intended to form the first side branches, and the 

 bud A the extension of the stem. 



The buds selected for the extension of the stem and 

 for the side branches should be as much in front as 



