594 
THE PEACH. 
time the interior of the tree is filled with long lean branches 
with only young shoots at their extremities. Any one can sec 
that such a tree can be provided with but half the number of 
healthy strong shoots for bearing, that one would have if filled 
throughout with vigorous young wood. The sap flows tardily 
through the long and rigid branches, and not half leaves enough 
are provided to secure the proper growth of the fruit. And, 
finally, all the fruit which the tree yields being allowed to remain 
at the ends of the branches, they often break under its weight. 
Now, we propose to substitute for this, what is generally 
known as the shortening-in system of pruning. We affirm, 
both from its constant success abroad, and from our own expe- 
rience and observation in this country, that putting its two dis- 
eases out of the question (which we will presently show how to 
avert), the peach may be continued in full vigour and produc- 
tion in any good soil, for from ten to thirty years. 
Let us take a healthy tree in the orchard or garden, in its 
first blossoming year. It is usually about 6 to 8 feet high, its 
well-shaped head branching out about three feet* from the 
ground. It has never yet been trimmed except to regulate any 
deformity in its shape, and this is so much the better. 
At the end of February, or as early in the spring as may be, 
we commence pruning. This consists only of shortening-in , 
i. e., cutting off half the last year's growth over the whole out- 
side of the head of the tree, and also upon the inner branches. 
As the usual average growth is from one to two feet, we shall 
necessarily take off from six to twelve inches. It need not be 
done with precise measurement ; indeed, the strongest shoots 
should be shortened back most, in order to bring up the others, 
and any long or projecting limbs that destroy the balance of the 
head should be cut back to a uniform length. This brings the 
tree into a well-rounded shape. By reducing the young wood 
one half, we at the same moment reduce the coming crop one 
half in number. The remaining half, receiving all the sus- 
tenance of the tree, are of double the size. The young shoots, 
which start out abundantly from every part of the tree, keep it 
well supplied with bearing wood for the next year, while the 
greater luxuriance and size of the foliage, as a necessary conse- 
quence, produces larger and higher flavoured fruit.f Thus, 
* We think low heads much preferable to high ones on many accounts. 
They shade the root, which insects are therefore much less liable to at- 
tack, and they are more within reach both for pruning and gathering. 
f It is well, in shortening-back, to cut off the shoot close above a wood- 
lud rather than a blossom-bud. Few persons are aware how much the 
size and beauty of the fruit depends on the size and vigour of the leaves. 
We have seen two peach trees of the same age side by side, one un pruned, 
and the other regularly shortened-in , and both bearing about four bushels. 
That of the latter was, however, of double the size, and incomparably 
finer. 
