June 
country, “ robbers.” From the maiden tree, planted 
last winter, to the tree in full bearing, the peach is 
peculiarly liable to the production of such shoots in 
the early part of June, especially if the tree be very 
healthy and in good soil. Strong growing trees re¬ 
quire, therefore, more management than those that 
are weak; and, if such shoots be left uncontrolled, it 
will be found, in a season or two, that the tree, 
although, perhaps, larger in volume, has produced 
long rambling boughs, intruding on their neighbour’s 
position; whilst a considerable portion of the wall, 
near the trunk or collar, has become either nearly 
without young shoots, or those which exist are so de¬ 
prived of sap by the over-luxuriant shoots as to be 
almost useless. The existence of these “ robbers,” 
therefore, merely points to the fact that the tree is 
making effort after effort to regain that species of 
liberty which it has lost, viz., that of a standard or 
ordinary tree; which, we need scarcely add, is the 
character of the peach in its native country. These 
“robbers” may be readily known. It will be remem¬ 
bered that, in one of our earlier numbers, we classi¬ 
fied the wood of the peach and nectarine under three 
divisions, viz., that of a proper or medium character, 
that which is too weak, and that which is too strong. 
However, to those who arc not much at home in 
gardening matters, we may as well observe that all 
shoots which commence branching off into “ axillary" 
or side spray wood may be considered over gross. As 
an example of axillary wood, and in order to make 
our observations perfectly familiar and certain, we 
would point to such a gross growing shrub as the 
grape-vine. Everybody must know that the vine, 
when growing strong, produces abundance of side 
spray where the shoots have been growing a few 
weeks: such are technically, and, indeed, scientifi¬ 
cally, termed “axillary” shoots. All shoots, then, 
during summer, which commence branching in this 
way should have their points pinched off as soon as 
this disposition is apparent; nipping off merely the 
extreme end. In the case of young trees just begin¬ 
ning to acquire strength, it is well to permit them to 
ramble a little longer before stopping, in order to ac¬ 
quire a good root action, and to get a good portion 
of the wall covered betimes. This procedure is per¬ 
fectly compatible with the future welfare of the tree, 
as one of the prime reasons for a severe course of 
stopping in established trees is so to equalise the sap 
that the fruit on all the subordinate parts of the tree 
may be duly supplied with nutriment; which is not 
the case when gross shoots are permitted to revel in 
the root supplies unmolested. Young peach and 
nectarine-trees, therefore, may have “more law” than 
older trees; but, towards the middle of August, if 
such young trees still shew a strong root action, a 
severe coarse of stopping should commence with 
these also: taking care to keep the eye directed, in a 
special manner, to a few of the very gross leading 
shoots, which will contrive to push forth, in many 
cases, young points until the beginning of October. 
We may, now, as well observe upon the manage¬ 
ment of the lateral or axillary shoots which have 
sprung forth from those shoots which were “ stopped” 
or pinched; and, we would say, just look carefully 
over your peach-trees at this very period ; and, once 
for all, note down in your mind’s eye the different 
character which manifests itself in the different kinds 
of young wood before alluded to. On the leading 
portions of your vigorous peach-trees you will perceive 
some strong shoots, whether stopped or unstopped, 
which have produced two or three pairs of these ax¬ 
illary shoots. On others, not quito so strong, there 
141 
will be seen a disposition to proceed in a similar 
course; this is shewn by a couple of tiny leaflets 
which have taken the liberty of developing them¬ 
selves in the very nursery of the future bud; these 
two leaflets, by-the-by, frequently receive the acces¬ 
sion of a third, which, indeed, generally becomes a 
wood bud: that is to say, it produces a branch in the 
ensuing year, while, ten to one, the two outer ones 
become blossom buds. Well, these things you must 
carefully take notice of, and. by pursuing the same 
course next spring at the period of leafing, you will 
establish the identity of the parts in question, and 
trace out the peculiar formations of the respective 
parts to which we now allude. Some of the leading 
shoots have developed, we will say, three pans of ax¬ 
illary shoots. Now, since our limitation of space on 
the wall, and our desire to promote a heathful elabo¬ 
ration by means of light, prevent all these shoots 
being nailed down, a selection must be made. In 
the first place, the first pair of axillary shoots are of 
more value than any of the rest; there is a greater 
probability of tbeir tissue becoming hardened ; or, in 
other words, their wood becoming ripened. These, 
therefore, must be reserved, provided always that 
there is space at liberty on which to train them; and 
when they have grown about nine inches in length, 
their tops must be pinched in like manner, in order to 
solidify their character. When the first jiair are thus 
retained, the next pah-, in general, must be stripped 
clear away, for there is seldom room to lay them in: 
they would, indeed, be too close to the others. This 
done, it becomes a question whether to retain the 
next pair? All we can say is, that if they can be 
nailed down, without overshadowing other shoots, by 
all means do so, taking care to “ stop” them when about 
eight or nine inches long. After securing two pairs 
of these axillary shoots, few more arc worth saving, 
at least in our northern counties : autumn, with its 
Chilling damps, comes on betimes, and the growing 
principles, if not checked by natural means, must re* 
ceive a check by some artificial course. 
Hedge-how Fruits. —During last December, we 
offered some hints to the cottager on the culture of 
hedge-row fruit-trees; and we shall feel it a duty to 
continue, at intervals, such advice as may be neces¬ 
sary. In the first place it is very probable that 
young trees in such situations will be much benefit- 
ted by watering, especially if the hedge-row is ele¬ 
vated above the ground level. Where newly planted 
trees are thus circumstanced, we would give them 
every assistance possible in this way, even adding 
soapsuds or dunghill drainings to the water, if such 
fertilizers are spareable. When they get well estab¬ 
lished they will need little pains. The stems, too, 
should be kept free from weeds; such may be pulled 
or cut down, and thrown on the surface of the soil 
over the roots to act as a middling—they will keep 
the roots cool and damp. Care must be taken, also, 
to train young stripling trees to a leader of the 
desired height. Any side spray which, is produced 
in young rising trees must by no means be stripped 
away suddenly, it should be merely pinched back when 
about a couple of inches long; the part remaining will 
tend to thicken the main stem, which is apt to grow 
up too slender without such precautions. 
Birds, &c. — We hope that every one anxious 
about bis fruits has taken care to banish those terri¬ 
ble fruit stealers, the blackbird and the throstle. 
Also, the wasps’ nests taken now save much trouble, 
as also much fruit. It. Errington. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
