244 Our Wondrous Atmosphere. May, 



It is ill the nursery that the beginning should be made to form the 

 pyramidal tree. When the bud has grown to the height of fifteen or 

 eighteen inches, it should be checked by pruning off the extremity. This 

 check will cause the growth of smaller lateral shoots, each having a new 

 and well proportioned leader. These lateral shoots thus developed, are 

 •well fitted to become the leading lateral branches. Care must be taken, 

 however, to prevent them from becoming rivals of the upward leader. 

 By this treatment the tree is really advanced for one year, inasmuch as 

 the sap of the first year is turned at once to the best account in the 

 production of branches, instead of cutting ofi" the redundant growth as a 

 useless switch, as is usually done, when the tree is transplanted. 



For hedge-growing it is quite reasonable, also, to turn the vigor of 

 vegetation, by repeated summer prunings, into the production of dense 

 brush-wood to form the base of the hedge, instead of throwing it in the 

 fire of the brush-heap the following spring ; or of raising hedges, as too 

 many are, which are dense enough eight feet above the ground, but open 

 at the bottom where the greater density is needed. 



This subject of * summer pruning ' is of great practical importance, 

 and deserves a more extended exposition than we can now give it. And 

 we feel assured that the horticulturist would find greater satisfaction and 

 more enjoyment, to say nothing of profit, in the culture of his favorite 

 orchard, when conducted with such considerate precautions and watch- 

 fulness over his trees as the philosophy of this subject suggests ; and 

 would experience as much delight in exercising his science and skill on 

 his pear trees as he ever did on the strawberry hobby. 



OUR "WO WDKOUS ATMOSPHERE 



TiTE atmosphere rises above us, with its cathedral dome arching toward 

 the heavens, of which it is the most familiar synonjm and symbol. It 

 floats around us like that grand object which the Apostle John saw in 

 his vision, " a sea of glass like unto a crystal." So massive is it that 

 when it begins to stir, it tosses about great ships like playthings, and 

 sweeps cities and forests like snow flakes to destruction before it ; and 

 yet it is so mobile that we have lived years in it before we can be per- 

 suaded that it exists at all, and the great bulk of mankind never realize 

 the truth that they are bathed in an ocean of air. Its weight is so 

 enormous that iron shivers before it like glass ; yet a soap ball sails 



