298 
PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 
tain too much fruit in 1832, and the paucity of fruit may perhaps 
be thus accounted for. Still, however, it is undeniably the fact, that 
the netted trees have much deteriorated. 
I am not willing to deny the protecting power of nets; nor am I 
at a loss to conjecture the way in which they act as preservers; but 
I am by no means convinced that any good whatever is derived from 
keeping the trees covered night and day. Is it not probable, that 
the direct uninterrupted influence of light, air, and dew, must be of 
general and essential service ? Could a net or mat indeed, be placed 
over a tree during a very acute frost, and be removed subsequently 
as soon as possible, the good conferred might be unalloyed; but to 
interpose a permanent screen between the tree, the body acted upon 
and its great natural agents and exciters appears altogether a differ¬ 
ent affair ! The facts I have observed, have led me to reflect; and 
merely to elicit other facts, bearing upon the question, from practi¬ 
cal men, is the direct object of this communication. 
G. I. T. 
May 2oth, 1833. 
ARTICLE IV. 
REMARKS ON MR. SEYMOUR’S SYSTEM OF TRAINING 
PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES. 
13V MR. JAMES BROWN, JUN. 
Although so much has been written upon the training and pru¬ 
ning of wall trees, especially the peach-tree, I hope I may be per¬ 
mitted to offer a few remarks to your numerous readers, and that 
some of them will stand forward in defence of the old tottering fabric, 
the fan system, as it is denominated by Mr. Dyson. 
In reply to that gentleman, I will endeavour to shew what differ¬ 
ence there is in accomplishing the desired end, or whether any dis¬ 
advantages arise from the old system more than the new one. I am 
not about to condemn Mr. Seymour’s mode of training, on the con¬ 
trary, great credit is due to him for the skill he has displayed in his 
training. But the pages of the Register are open for free discussion 
on every thing relating to Horticulture, without partiality, and I 
sincerely hope, without any personal sarcasms on either side. 
The greatest objection to Mr. Seymour’s method, in my opinion, 
is that it is not capable of being brought to that perfection its admi¬ 
rers advocate. I presume that it is liable to as many imperfections 
