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luxuriant trees should be allowed to bear what is 

 termed a heavy crop ; this will moderate their luxuri- 

 ance, and prove beneficial to the tree itself. (Gard, 

 and Flor. iii. 333.) 



Thinning, like disbudding, is best done in a pro- 

 gressive way. Our practice is to go over in the first 

 case and remove those which are in contact with each 

 other, or at least one where two fruits touch. Where 

 a good " set" occurs, they will soon require another 

 thinning, and by this time those which are of supe- 

 rior character and size may be readily distinguished. 

 Inferior fruit and cripples may now be removed, at 

 least where too thick. By the time that the young- 

 shoots require tacking to the wall, a few more may 

 require to be removed, and, by this time, some will be 

 distorted by being squeezed between the shoots and 

 the wall. These, if the crop be abundant, may at once 

 be removed. 



Perhaps the rule nearest to general applicability, is 

 to have a space of nine inches between every brace of 

 fruit upon the weaker shoots, and a six-inch space 

 between those on the stronger ; but first-rate fruit of 

 the large varieties should never be nearer than 12 

 inches to each other. 



Gathering should take place a day or two before 

 the fruit is to be used, and before it is dead ripe, and 

 it should be laid on clean paper in the summer-fruit- 

 room. Peaches may be gathered in the heat of the 



