GLEANINGS ON HORTICULTURE. 



37 



is inimical to both size and flavour in the fruity Lotli which 

 qualities are enlianced by wl)at we may term a concentration of 

 the elaborated juices, wliich at this period shoukl be in full 

 power. Commence stopping as soon as the last swelUng of the 

 fruit begins: this will be about the first week in August. Go 

 over the trees three times — beginning first at the extremities, 

 pinching off the mere growing point of every shoot that may be 

 considered a leading one, or inclined to be rather rampant. Not 

 a shoot should be touched on tlie subordinate part of the tree 

 which has acquired the character of a leader. Stop all shoots 

 which overlap the others near the collar of the tree, and all those 

 which spring foi'th from the sides of theymmf) sliooU of the current 

 year: these are termed axillary shoots. By this period they will 

 be six inches in length at least; and where more walling re- 

 mains to be covered, they will be required to remain till the 

 winter's forming, although many foolishly cut them away, for they 

 cannot fancy the appearance of them, as they differ so much 

 from the bearing wood. They produce fruitful shoots in the 

 ensuing year, and if stopped at this dressing, it will impart 

 a woody firmness to the shoots. One-third of the growing 

 shoots should now have been stopped, besides the axillary 

 shoots. In another fortnight, go over the trees again, and 

 stop another third portion, on precisely similar principles ; and 

 should any stopped before commence growing again, stop them 

 at every point. 



The other remaining weak shoots should not be stopped 

 at all by this systematic course of stopping. It is easy to cause 

 the lower portion of the tree to become stronger than the prin- 

 cipal branches. This can be done by winter-pruning, when a 

 fine strong-growing peach-tree covers two-thirds of the space of 

 the wall allotted to it. Much deviation from such a case will be 

 necessary when the trees are weak, as little stopping is required. 



Those who have gross and barren trees, may feai'lessly prune 

 the extremities of the roots, or leave the trencli open for a few 

 weeks, in order to check them by drought ; and this will super- 

 sede the necessity of more severe operations, especially if a iiot 

 and dry sunnner occurred. It would be tantamount to planting 

 the trees elevated above the ground level, the beneficial effects 

 of which are well known ; and the plan of curving all the 

 branches at their termination is not yet sufficiently appreciated. 



If this is carried into effect even so late as in April, you will be 

 surprised to find blossom-buds on trees which never produced 



