228 



REPORT ON THE 



Peach, the south-east aspect is considered at Montreuil the most 

 favourable. 



The soil appears a poor yellowish-brown calcareous sandy 

 loam, such as would be unfit for wheat or other corn crops. In 

 the Peach culture it gets occasionally some Paris street-manure. 



We called on M. Alexis Lepere, Cultivateur de Peckers, 

 Rue Cuve-du- Four, 40, d Montreuil-sous-bois, who has pub- 

 lished a very good work on the pruning and management of the 

 Peach-tree. We found him at his grounds, where on certain 

 days he gives practical instruction, each person attending paying 

 three francs. To make sure of meeting him, we went on one of 

 those days. 



Before describing his mode of training, considered the latest 

 improvement of the Montreuil system, it may be proper briefly 

 to explain what that system was. Its principle originally con- 

 sisted in checking the perpendicular flow of the sap by diverting 

 it into two channels, right and left. This was effected by means 

 of the two main branches, laid off like a V. But branches taken 

 from the under sides of tiiese invariably became too weak, whilst 

 those allowed to grow at the same time from their upper sides 

 soon exceeded the original main branches in point of vigour. 

 The under branches frequently died, or became useless from 

 weakness, and those above them had to be lowered in their 

 places. This was the case for two centuries at Montreuil. 



Butret published a treatise entitled Taille Raisonnee des Ar- 

 bres Fruitiers, which was considered the vade mecum of the 

 cultivators. In it the physiological details connected with the 

 management of the Peach-tree are excellent, and led to the 

 mode of allowing the branches on the under side of the main 

 branches to be a year in advance of those on the upper. This 

 was considered the best system of Montreuil training when the 

 Garden of the Society was formed, and accordingly it was there 

 adopted. But it was found not to answer ; for although the 

 under branches had the advantage of being started a year before 

 those springing from the upper side, yet in two years the latter 

 not only exceeded those secondary branches, but likewise, in 

 most cases, the main branches themselves. It was therefore 

 found impossible to follow the system with advantage, and con- 

 sequently its adoption was never recommended by the Society. 

 The Montreuillois now condemn that mode themselves on the same 

 grounds. 



In order to remedy the evil as much as possible, instead of 

 starting the under branches one year in advance of the upper, 

 they give them several years' advantage, as will be understood 

 from Fig. 1, which represents the number and direction of the 

 principal branches forming the charpente or frame- work of a 



