M TREATISE ON THE CULTURE ANT> ? 



Of Pruning, Training, and Nailing old Peach-Trees, 



When the trees run up to the top of the wall, leaving about 

 three fourths of it naked, [See Plate III. Fig. 3.] the beft" 

 way is to cut them as far back as you can find any young 

 fhoots or buds.. You muff always leave fome young fhoots or 

 buds on Peach-trees, otherwife you endanger the life of them.. 

 Never head them as you would Apricot, Apple^or Pear-trees. 

 If you cut or head down Peach-trees without attending to the: 

 caution given above, you run a great rilk of killing them ; but 

 if there are a few young fhoots, the top may with fafety be 

 cut off, j'uft above them, as they will lead the fapup and pro- 

 duce ftrong branches, which ihould be topped as you would 

 do a young tree to fill the wall. 



It is more difficult to procure new wood from old Peach- 

 trees than from any other, except Nectarines. I have often* 

 made incifions in the old branches, about the joints cutting 

 out a piece from; one to three inches according to the fize of 

 the branches.. [See Plate XL Fig. 2.] This fhould be 

 done in feveral places of the tree, to furnifh it with young 

 wood ; always rounding the edges where the incifion is made* 

 which ihould be above the joint,, and as near to it as may be. 

 The operation ihould be performed in the month of April ; 

 but never cut off the old branches, unlefs you perceive fome 

 young fhoots making their appearance. When they are about 

 three or four inches long, cut off' the old branch, which will 

 caufe the frefh young wood to make a rapid progrefs the firft 

 fummer, and y 011 will have fine fruit on them the following 

 year. 



Always 



