THE PEACH GARDENS OF MONTREUIL. 447 



most successful growers^ who, however, are sure to have 

 several trees most fantasticallj trained. They will tell you 

 that form is not a matter of so much consequence^ but, 

 nevertheless, certain forms are preferred, and certain prin- 

 ciples strictly adhered to. 



A very old man, dressed in a blouse, is moving along the 

 walls nailing in the shoots here and there, and with him a 

 dozen young men, his pupils. This is M. Lepere, who has 

 a class twice a week. Incidentally I may say that the 



Fia. 260. 



¥m. 261. 



Pruning to replace old fruit-spur : Eesult of the preceding operation. B is 

 wood-buds are developed at the cut at C; E bears fruit, and G wood- 

 base, and all the shoots are cut buds ; and thus the spur is renewed, 

 sharp off, as at A. 



principle of giving a full explanation of their system of 

 doing anything well, animates all French gardeners more 

 or less. Did anybody ever hear of an unusually successful 

 English market gardener or fruit grower calling a class 

 round him at a low fee, or no fee at all? The French, 

 though proud of their success in this way, are careful to 

 give it the fullest possible ventilation ; and those who attend 

 here cannot fail to learn the culture of the Peach as well as 

 need be, if so disposed, for the master glides along the wall, 

 and stops and nails in the shoots, and cuts out the foremost 



