238 
or the frozen bliglit, is very apt to follow. To prevent this, plow early 
in the season; let the roots be occasionally cut—By this you arrest the 
too rapid flow of sap, and at the same time divert some of the energy of 
the tree from the function of creating new wood to that of repairing an 
injury to its roots.' 5 * 1 ' ’Tis true, your tree will not make so great a growth, 
nor set so many buds for next year’s fruit, but what wood buds it does 
form will be fully matured, and in most instances, capable of withstand¬ 
ing the cold winters of this climate. From this I deduce the rnle: 
Thirdly. Keep your ground well manured, and well cultivated with 
the plow and the hoe. 
Lastly—Let the above guide as to the time of pruning. Here the rule 
for hardy fruits must be reversed. The shock of injury must occasionally 
be felt. A part of the tree’s energy must be diverted from the formation 
of wood to the healing of wounds. And proportioned to the soundness 
of the discretion and the judgment exercised in this branch of peach 
culture at the North, will, generally, be the success of the cultivator. 
For as the peach requires more pruning than almost any other tree, the 
whole work performed at one time, and in the growing season, would pro¬ 
duce a shock incompatible with the performance of the healthy functions 
of the tree. 
I lay down the following as the best general rule to guide in this busi¬ 
ness : Immediately after the ripening of the fruit, select about one-third 
of the twigs which have grown during that season, and cut back one-half 
their growth. This will arrest all growth, and set the tree at once to 
hardening its new w T ood. Late in the autumn, but before the hard wea¬ 
ther of winter sets in, cut back another third in the same manner. If 
left till the severe weather, the twigs thus cut back are apt to die down 
for two or three inches below the cut, and leave unsightly dead stubs. 
Immediately after the frost is out of the ground, and you have a pro¬ 
mise of swelling buds, let the remaining third be treated in the same man¬ 
ner. By this pruning the tree is again kept busy for a few weeks in re¬ 
pairing its injuries, and a too early start in the spring is prevented. Your 
pruning is now done, unless you should discover a too rapid growth 
* You also, by cutting a part of the roots, prevent the too rapid absorption of those 
inorganic elements, which require a like absorption of carbon for their proper assimila¬ 
tion. 
