A little study of the habit of growth in the peach
will show that, to obtain the best results, the pruning-shears are
almost as essential as in the case of the grape-vine. More than in
any other fruit-tree, the sap tends strongly toward the ends of
the shoots. Left to Nature, only the terminal buds of these will
grow from year to year; the other buds lower down on the shoots
fail and drop off. Thus we soon have long naked reaches of
unproductive wood, or sucker-like sprouts starting from the bark,
which are worse than useless. Our first aim should be to form a
round, open, symmetrical head, shortening in the shoots at least
one-half each year, and cutting out crossing and interlacing
branches. For instance, if we decide to grow our trees as dwarf
standards, we shall cut back the stems at a point two feet from
the ground the first spring after planting, and let but three buds
grow, to make the first three or leading branches. The following
spring we shall cut back the shoots that have formed, so as to
make six leading branches. Thereafter we shall continue to cut out
and back so as to maintain an open head for the free circulation
of air and light.
To learn the importance of rigorous and careful pruning, observe
the shoots of a vigorous peach-tree, say three or four years old.
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