93 



in topiary work. There is, however, but little ana- 

 logy between clipping and pruning ; and in old trees, 

 where the two leading shoots bear no proportion to 

 the others which are annually shortened, the principle 

 is virtually given up. It must be admitted, how- 

 ever, that the continual disbudding economises the 

 force of the tree, by limiting the number of shoots, 

 and preventing the appearance of those which grow 

 only to be cut off. A considerable diminution of 

 labour is also gained in the busy period of summer. 



Under this mode of pruning, the quantity of blos- 

 som is necessarily small, since only three double 

 flower-buds at most are ever left on one shoot. This, 

 however, obviates the necessity of thinning the crop, 

 and is said to increase the size, and consequently 

 the flavour of the fruit. In the climate of France, 

 it should seem that the gardener may calculate on 

 the setting of any given flower. {Caled, Hort, Mem, 

 iv. 144.) 



The eminent success which has been known to ac- 

 company the cultivation of peaches in the neighbour- 

 hood of Montreuii is a sufficient warrant for paying 

 every attention to the details of their practice. We 

 think that there is little or nothing to be objected to 

 on the score of principle, but many points which the 

 British gardener would do well to imitate. The 

 mode of starting their trees we hold to be of consi- 

 derable importance : their adopting a pair of shoots 



