NAT. ORDER. — AMYDALACEiE. 
115 
some part of the former bearers of the two preceding years ; cut- 
ting the most naked quite away and others down to the most eligible 
younger branch or well-placed shoot. Also take out all diseased and 
dead wood, retaining ground where necessary to fill a vacuity. In 
cold and late situations, some recommend a mode of pruning adapted 
to obtain fruit-bearing spurs on the Peach, and these spurs are found 
to be best calculated in such situations and late seasons to generate 
well organized and vigorous blossoms. Instead of taking off so large 
a portion of the young shoots, and training in a few only, to a con- 
siderable length, as is usually done, and as I should do myself, to a 
considerable extent, say, in New Jersey and other favorable situa- 
tions, I should preserve a large number of young shoots, which are 
emitted in a proper direction, in early spring, by the yearling wood, 
shortening each where necessary by pinching off the minute succu- 
lent points, generally to the length of one or two inches. Spurs 
which lie close to the wall are thus made, upon which numerous 
blossom-buds form very early in the ensuing summer. It is only in 
cold and late situations that the mode of management above sug- 
gested is recommended. The spurs must not be shortened in the 
winter or spring, till it can be ascertained what parts of them are 
provided with leaf-buds. The chief rule which is recommended to 
follow is, never to allow the shoots that are left for bearing fruit to 
run to any length from the strong wood, for which reason, when the 
trees are pruned in autumn, the bearing branches for the next year 
are shortened, taking care not to leave more fruiting-buds than will 
be thought to come to perfection. 
Training. The Peach is almost universally trained in the fan- 
manner, either straight-lined or wavy, though some contend that it 
bears better in rich soils, when two leading branches are encouraged, 
and the bearing shoots trained outwards from these, so as to form a 
sort of horizontal training. 
Thinning the fruit. In favorable seasons the blossoms often set 
more fruit than the trees can support, or than have room to attain 
