On the proper Mode of pruning the Peach Tree. 365 

 tendril, and it is always within the power of every cultivator 

 to occasion it to remain a tendril. The blossoms are all 

 additions, the formation of which is always dependent upon 

 other agents : and if any considerable part of the leaves be 

 taken off the branch prematurely, or if the vine be not sub- 

 jected to the influence of the requisite degree of heat and 

 light, the tendrils will permanently retain their primary 

 form and office ; and it is very frequently observable, when 

 much of the foliage of fruit trees has been destroyed by 

 insects, or when the previous season has been cold and wet, 

 that blossoms are not formed at all, or are feeble and imper- 

 fect, and consequently abortive. The state of the Peach 

 trees and Vines, in every part, or nearly every part, of the 

 kingdom, in the present spring, has afforded, I believe, more 

 than sufficient evidence of the truth of the last position. 



It is, I conceive, quite unnecessary to adduce arguments 

 to prove that the buds, which are first formed in the spring, 

 are most likely to undergo properly the necessary internal 

 changes of structure above mentioned, and consequently to 

 afford more perfectly organized blossoms, than such as are 

 not formed before the middle of the summer, or till near the 

 approach of autumn ; and if this be admitted, it will not be 

 difficult to shew, that the mode of pruning and training the 

 Peach tree, which has been uniformly recommended, and 

 almost as uniformly practised, is well adapted to favourable 

 situations only. It has been derived from the practice of 

 the French gardeners, and is probably perfectly well suited 

 to the climate of Paris, but by no means so well calculated (I 

 have, I think, very good reason to believe) for the colder parts 

 of England, as that I proceed to describe and recommend. 



