382 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



forms : he increases the fructification, and develops the formation of buds 

 according to his wish." 



Thoroughly to illustrate the results, diagrams would be necessary ; we 

 shall, however, endeavor to explain as clearly as the subject Avill admit of. 

 M. Millot-Brule's elementary figure consists of a straight branch which from 

 one common tentre separates into fifteen branches, resembling, in fact, a 

 small tree with a regularly-formed head. A second represents an espalier 

 peach tree, the branches of which radiate in the form of a wheel, each branch 

 terminating in an oval ring of smaller branches, developed at regular inter- 

 vals. From these simple forms, others of a more complex nature may be 

 produced ; a single stem, properly managed, will form a square, a parallelo- 

 gram, of a series of circles, so elegant in design, that if copied in papier 

 mache' they would be prized as graceful ornaments for the drawing-room. 

 The buds may be multiplied, and the branches sent off entirely at the pleasure 

 of the cultivator ; hence there is no limit to the forms which may be pro- 

 duced. 



In the course of his experiments, M. Millot-Brule discovered another of 

 the interesting secrets of arboriculture, namely, that little branches must not 

 be developed immediately opposite each other on a horizontal branch trained 

 against a wall or on stakes ; and the reason is, that the branches which run 

 upwards take up all the sap at the expense of those running downwards ; 

 the latter consequently languish. It therefore becomes absolutely necessary 

 to develop the small branches alternately each lower one between two 

 upper ones on all horizontal branches. It is possible, moreover, to assist 

 the lower branches by bending the upper ones upon themselves, making 

 them form a sort of knot, but always with the precaution of leaving the 

 extreme points in an upward direction. 



Any intelligent person may, by a little dexterity, become a practised 

 arboriculturist. The process in its simplest form appears to be to decapitate 

 the buds with a penknife as soon as the sap begins to circulate in the spring. 

 In a few days, two new buds appear at the base of the bud thus operated on, 

 and the vegetation of these is easily equalized by expert trimming, or pinch- 

 ing off when necessary. The equilibrium once established, these two buds 

 may be similarly treated, and as each w r ill produce two more, any number 

 of branches may be obtained, and a thick full head developed on the top of 

 a single stem. To make branches shoot in different directions, the terminal 

 bud of the main branch is pinched at one side or the other, according as the 

 direction required is to the right or left ; and the new buds being pinched in 

 turn, perfect control is established over each branch from its very earliest 

 growth. We pretend not to enter into the minute details that would be 

 requisite in a horticultural publication : all we propose is to convey some 

 general notion of what strikes us as a remarkable discovery. 



Wires are used when necessary to maintain the branches in a proper 

 position ; and from this point we are led to a consideration of practical use 

 and value. This method of multiplying branches being introduced into 

 nurseries, the trees grown will be more fruitful and less irregular in form 

 than heretofore. Who would not rather see a shapely tree than a straggler ! 



