CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH. 
1G3 
ten inches to a foot in length; the uppermost 
bud should be encouraged to extend in the 
same direction as the branch, and one other 
should be reserved on the upper side of the 
branch, and at about one-third of its length: 
These side branches, when once fixed on, 
should extend in a line to the extreme cir- 
cumference of the tree "without any obstruc- 
tion ; and as the circumference of the circle 
traversed by them becomes larger as they 
extend outwards, there can be no danger of 
their interfering with each other, if the simple 
rule of training them in straight radiating 
lines is adopted. The diagram sketch, fig. 5, 
Fig. 5. 
represents the probable appearance of a tree 
at the end of this second season's training. 
It will be unnecessary to detail the subse- 
quent annual pruning, for the same principles 
should be applied throughout the whole ex- 
istence of the tree. The upright branch in the 
centre should be continued as a source of side 
branches, until their divergence has filled up 
the whole of the space which is available by 
them; and as this branch is to be continued, 
so the means of securing its continuance will 
be by an attention to the principles detailed 
during the first season of training. The side 
branches should be continued outwards in 
direct lines whenever they are commenced, 
and may be increased in number as the spaces 
become wider on approaching the circum- 
ference of the tree; whenever the distance 
between them exceeds a foot, a fresh ramifica- 
tion may be allowed, either above or below, 
Fig. 6. 
as may be required, and found most con- 
veniently placed with reference to the space 
to be filled up. Thus much refers to the 
pruning of the tree, with reference to its 
form; the skeleton will be thus laid out, and 
the object will be to keep this filled in with a 
constant and regular supply of young fruit- 
bearing wood. The diagram, fig. 6, may be 
taken as a representation of a tree approach- 
ing maturity. . ' 
Hitherto we have spoken only of pruning 
with reference to the form and contour of the 
plant ; it remains, therefore, to say a few 
words with respect to pruning inasmuch as it 
relates to the production and regulation of 
fruit-bearing shoots. It must be recollected 
that the Peach produces its fruit blossoms 
immediately from the wood of the previous 
summer's growth : the object, therefore, is to 
supply the tree as regularly and as thickly as 
its powers will endure, with such fruitful 
shoots annually. It has been already said 
that the side branches should be carried out- 
wards in direct lines, and should occupy 
positions somewhat near one foot distant from 
each other. On the upper side, only, of 
these, should the annual wood be permitted 
to develop ; and, therefore, at the pruning 
season, in the spring months, all the buds 
should be removed from the trees, which do 
not occupy a position which will admit of 
their development in conformity with the 
order and regularity to be observed in train- 
ing. This renders it necessary to remove the 
buds produced from the lower side of the 
branches, and also those immediately in front ; 
and even of those which then remain it will 
be found that they will not all be required. 
With reference to the contiguity of these 
shoots, they may be Allowed, at about eighteen 
inches distance from each other, along the 
branch ; if nearer than this, they will become 
crowded ; and if more distant, there will be a 
loss of space, and, consequently, a liability of 
loss of produce. The manner in which these 
shoots are to be trained will be understood by 
referring to fig. 6. In regulating their length 
at the winter pruning, some attention must be 
paid to their individual strength and capa- 
bilities ; but they should seldom or never be 
retained more than a foot long, and they 
should be cut back to a wood-bud, which 
differs from a blossom-bud in being small 
and pointed, whereas the latter are large, and 
nearly round. To maintain this system of 
pruning and training, we require, annually, 
a shoot similar to those just mentioned, to 
occupy the place of each ; and some others to 
fill up the fresh spaces, occupied as the trees 
extend : now these are to be obtained by 
training in a young shoot from the base of 
each bearing shoot, during the summer, at full 
length. The one selected should be that 
which is most conveniently placed, with 
reference to the position which it is to occupy; 
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