THE PEACH. 153 



pearance of fig. 131. If left to itself again, the same 

 results will follow ; and it will be seen, that if eacli of 

 the side branches were left to grow in this manner, the 

 branches would become so indefinitely prolonged, that 

 it would not be possible for the sap to afford sufficient 

 nutriment for them, and many would wither, especially 



Fig. 129— Small Ermt-Branch Fig. 130.— Ordinary Fruit-Braneh 



in Blossom. of Peach. 



towards the base ; and the vacant places would seriously 

 detract from the appearance and regularity of the tree. 

 It is in this way that unpruned, or badly pruned, peaches 

 are often destroyed. 



Under these circumstances, we see how the branch a 

 (fig. 130) ought to be pruned, retaining at the same 

 time a sufficient number of flowers to determine the 

 development of the wood-buds h and c. This double 



H 3 



