97 



of the secondary branches should produce, besides the 

 leading shoot, one other, placed near to the bottom ; 

 for the grand art of pruning, in all systems to which 

 this class of trees are subjected, consists in preserving 

 a sufficient quantity of young wood at the bottom of 

 the tree ; and on no account must the gardener cut 

 clean away any shoots so placed without well consi- 

 dering if they will be wanted, not only for the present 

 but for the future good appearance of the tree. The 

 quantity of young wood annually laid in must depend 

 upon the vigour of the tree. It would be ridiculous 

 to lay the sam.e quantity of wood into a weakly tree 

 as into a tree full of vigour. The gardener here must 

 use his own judgment. But if any of the leading 

 shoots manifest a disposition to outstrip the others, a 

 larger portion of young wood must be laid in, and a 

 greater quantity of fruit than usual suffered to ripen 

 on the over-vigorous branch ; at the same time, a 

 smaller quantity of fruit than usual must be left to 



Fig, 11. — Fan-trained peach, in complete form. 

 H 



