1908.] 



Pruning of the Peach. 



66 



and should not be used except in case of emergency, because 

 it is difficult to tie them in neatly in regular lines. As far as 

 possible a choice should be made from amongst the shoots of 

 medium strength that grow parallel with the face of the 

 support. 



When the shoots have matured and cast their leaves, it will 

 be found, on examining them, that they contain different 

 kinds of buds. There will be small, pointed, single buds, 

 which are growth buds pure and simple ; there will probably 

 be buds in pairs, one of which may be a plump fruit and the 

 other a narrow wood bud ; and there will be buds in threes, 

 two of which are likely to be fruit buds and the third a wood 

 bud. Each shoot of the right kind will contain at least one 

 cluster of triple buds, and probably it will contain several. 



Disbudding. — With the commencement of growth the 

 following year will come the process of disbudding, which 

 is a form of pruning. The necessity for disbudding arises 

 from the fact that the various wood buds on the fruiting shoots 

 will begin to push, and if allowed to extend will soon crowd 

 the tree and rob the fruit. The great majority of them will 

 have to be removed, and it is advisable to take them away 

 while they are quite small. It is a good plan to spread the 

 operation over a few days, in order to avoid causing a check ; 

 indeed, such a course may be rendered imperative by the 

 buds breaking at different periods. Two shoots may be left, 

 one near the tip, the other at the base. The former will en- 

 courage a free flow of sap up the shoot, and so aid the swelling 

 of the fruit. It must not, however, be allowed to extend 

 very far ; the best thing is to nip off the end after three leaves 

 have been formed, and if fresh growth starts stop it at the 

 first leaf. 



The basal shoot is the more important one. It is this 

 which is to form the fruiting shoot of the next year, when 

 the one now about to bear has done its duty and been cut 

 away. It must be allowed to grow unchecked, and kept 

 free from insects and fungi. Should it threaten to extend 

 more than two feet the end may be nipped off, and any subse- 

 quent growths which push as a result of this pinching stopped 

 at the first leaf. 



The system of pruning recommended applies to all peaches 



