300 



Upon forcing the Peach Tree, 



manure is mixed with it the better, providing the loam be what is 

 termed " Maiden Soil," from old rest land. If any manure be con- 

 sidered necessary, it should be chiefly Bone Manure, on account of 

 its decomposing very slowly, and of course gradually enriching the 

 soil. It is by the wasteful and indiscreet use of dung, that the 

 Peach is forced to produce " Robbers" or over luxuriant wood, 

 and if these Robbers are not stopped with the finger and thumb, 

 when only a few eyes in length, the necessary consequence is, that 

 the true bearing wood is both robbed of its due share of sap, by 

 the exclusion of light and prevented from attaining a due degree of 

 ripeness. If Peach Trees show any signs of weakness after bearing 

 a few years in soil of the description I have recommended, the 

 remedy is quite simple ; it is only having recourse to top dressing, 

 laying it on heavily in the Winter and removing a portion in the 

 Spring ; heavy top dressing is in my opinion extremely pernicious in 

 the growing season. If this is not sufficient to renovate the tree, it is 

 easy to add a prepared compost in a trench at the extremity of the 

 roots. If any unnecessary luxuriance takes place in any of the 

 fruit trees under my care, I cut the points of the roots without 

 hesitation, taking care to reduce them in proportion to the degree of 

 superfluous luxuriance. This root-cutting system I have pursued 

 for seven years at least, and find it every thing that can be desired. 



With regard to Winter pruning, I am not aware that there is any 

 thing peculiar in my practice, unless it be that I thin my young 

 wood to a very great extent. This may alarm some persons, who 

 may be afraid of not getting sufficient fruit, but this plan with a con- 

 tinual thinning and disbudding in Summer, so as to lose no sun- 

 shine on the leaves of the shoots intended for the next years crop, 

 renders the buds so plump and well ripened, that there need be no 

 fear in that respect. 



After the Winter pruning, I immediately stop every wound made 

 by the knife, and every place whence proceeds gummy exudations, 

 with a coat of thick white paint ; this painting, if I may so term it, is 



