THE GARDENER’S VEGETABLE SYSTEM 
26 
vent their making proper fhoots for fucccfiional bear¬ 
ers, and the fruit would be impoverifhed, and, in their 
advanced clofe growth, thruft one another off the trees, 
or would net acquire proper fize, or perfection of ma¬ 
turity; therefore this fhould be timeoufly attended to, 
while the fruit is in young growth, in May, or early 
in June, at fartheft; w'hen, examining the general 
branches, and where the fruit is croudedly thick, thin 
off the molt unpromiling, leaving the others, four to 
five, or fix inches afunder; or, according to the 
(trength of the different trees, and that of the bear¬ 
ing (hoots, in which leave the fruit thinner upon tliofe 
of a weakly or moderate date, than others of a ftrong- 
er, free growth. 
The thinned-off young fruit of the NeCtarines par¬ 
ticularly, as being finooth-rinded, and more poignant 
tafled than the Peaches, may be ufed for tarts, efpe- 
cially before they begin to done hard in the heart, 
In the advancing date of the fruit, continue the trees 
always divefted of the ufelefs fhoots of the year, and 
the others trained in clofe and regular to the wall, as 
advifed in the fummer-pruning, to admit the neceflary 
benefit of the fun, air, rains, dews, &c. all very ef- 
fential to forward and improve its growth, both in fize, 
colour, and goodnefs; and when advanced towards 
maturity, be particularly careful to keep all the fhoots 
clofely trained, to give free accefs to the aftion, or 
power of the fun; or alfo, where the leaves are very 
thick, fhading the fruit too confiderably, fome fhould 
be removed in a moderate, thinning manner, not to 
expofe the fruit fully, or fuddenly,at once, but to con¬ 
tinue dill a flight fhade, where any was before; and 
by thus keeping the general fhoots trained clofe, and 
thicket leaves thinned, that the beneficial influence of 
the fun is admitted, the fruit ’will ripen in all defirable 
perfection. 
According as the fruit ripens in its refpeClive fea- 
fon of the different varieties, it fhould be gathered 
while in bed perfection, moderately mellow, when in 
full flavour, and before too foft, and the rich flavour 
evaporated; and during hot weather, it would be ad- 
vifeable to gather it in the early part of the day, be¬ 
fore heated too much, and the flavour reduced by the 
power of the fun ; and deposited in a cool, dry place, 
till ferved to table. 
Thefe trees being fometimes attacked by blights 
and infeCts, in fummer, the former often attacking 
them fuddenly, either general, or fometimes only par¬ 
ticular branches, frequently in a fevere degree, that 
the malady cannot be prevented, efpecialty a dry blight, 
crblafl; in others, it comes on more gradually; fome¬ 
times the leaves and young fhoots become clammy, 
the former crumpled, and the latter bunchy at the 
ends, &c. and neither thefe nor the fruit make any 
progrefs in growth; in which, as it is oftenoccaftoned 
by the depredations of numerous fmall infeCts, may 
fometimes pull off the worft of the infeCted leaves, 
and cutting away the diftempered part of the fhoots; 
afterwards, may ftrew tobacco-dufl, fnuff, &c. over 
the general branches and leaves; and fometimes in 
dry, hot weather, water over the whole trees, with a 
garden engine pump, difeharging the water with force 
againft the branches, which repeated, will prove be¬ 
neficial; alfo, water the borders plentifully out of a 
watering-pot, fuflicient to reach the roots. 
And as blights and infeCts are fometimes occafion.ed 
by a weakly habit of the trees, or fome internal dif- 
temper in the branches, or root, it would be pro¬ 
per, when the trees aflume a weakly, or difeafed ap¬ 
pearance, or attacked with the above-mentioned ma¬ 
ladies, to dig the ground open about the roots, not to 
diflurb them; and apply fome frefh earth, or compoft 
of loam and thoroughly-rotted dung, clofe about the 
extreme and general roots; give water, and clofe the 
earth over the roots a proper depth; or, in weakly, 
ftunted, or diftempered trees, may, in autumn, or 
fpring, open the ground about the extreme roots; 
prune the ends thereof Hoping on the under fide, and 
cut out any decayed parts that appear, then add frefh 
earth, or compoft, as above ; the roots, where prun¬ 
ed, will emit frefh fibres into the renewed foil, which 
may prove beneficial in promoting a revived growth 
above in the head of branches. 
To the borders in general, in which thefe trees are 
growing, fhould give occafional manure of dung, ap¬ 
plied in autumn, winter, or fpring, once in two years, 
or as convenient; and if good, rotten dung, it will be 
of greater advantage, digged in one fpade deep; it 
will prove beneficial, both to the trees, in continuing 
them in a healthful, free growth, and promote the 
produftion of good fruit, large, and well flavoured. 
To obtain the Fruit early by forcing 
Early Peaches and Ne&arines, by forcing, are ob¬ 
tained, by having trees of the defirable varieties, 
planted in forcing ftoves, and forwarded by artificial 
heat of fire, or fometimes aififted alfo by bark-bed 
heat; beginning the forcing about the end of January, 
or beginning, or middle of February, continuing it 
till May; and by which, ripe fruit are acquired in 
that month, or in June, &c. 
For this cccafion, proper glaffary apartments are 
erefted, ranged long ways, eaft and weft, twenty, or 
thirty, to fifty feet long, or more, as may be required, 
ten, to twelve, or fifteen feet wide; a brick wall be¬ 
hind, on the north fide, upright glafs work in the 
ends and front, and floping fafhes above, and with 
flues within, ranged along the ends, front, and back 
wall; and having internal borders of rich earth rang¬ 
ed long ways, towards the back and front, in which 
to 
