1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 61 



than if cut in any other way. And further, by leaving the second bud 

 upon the upper part of the branch, it starts and grows in almost the 

 exact position it will require to take on the tree, so that, when the 

 pruning season comes the following year, it may be easily placed in 

 its position without the slightest twisting or injury to its cellular 

 tissue. In nailing these two branches to the wall, it will be to their 

 advantage to be laid in at an angle of about 45°, so that they may 

 receive all the encouragement possible to enable them to make good 

 strong wood for the following season. During summer, if the tree is 

 in robust health, it will send up three shoots from the centre branch and 

 two from each of the two side-branches, thereby giving a nicely-formed 

 young tree of seven branches. In the winter of this year we recommend 

 such a tree to be removed to its permanent position upon the wall ; but 

 if it is desired to keep it another year where it is, it ought to receive a 

 good root-pruning to induce the formation of fibrous roots, which 

 alone are the feeding-roots, to check those which are inclined to go 

 downwards, as well as to prevent rambling, and induce the formation 

 of fruit-buds. When the tree is placed in its permanent position, it 

 will be a benefit to it if a few inches of rough stable-dung be placed 

 over the roots to prevent the action of hard frost upon them, as 

 well as prevent evaporation, if hot parching weather should set in 

 before the tree is properly established. Most people do so by placino- 

 it upon the surface; we, however, prefer placing it a few inches above 

 the roots, and cover this over with an inch or two of soil, which 

 answers the purpose equally well, and at the same time looks more 

 tidy and cleanly. The soil best suited for the Pear will be spoken of 

 at the end of this chapter, when treating of the formation of borders. 

 When pruning at this time, we cut the centre shoot back to within 6 

 inches of its base, leaving the two side ones about 1 or 1 J feet, cutting 

 apon the same principles as last year, and training them at about 45° 

 angle. The under branches are laid down to about 25° ; nothing is 

 taken from the point of them, but the side-shoots upon them are cut 

 back, just as we have cut the others. In the summer followinf^, if 

 young wood pushes more than is wanted, we pinch it back to about 2 

 inches in June, and again in August to about one eye from where its 

 lateral pushed. In the following winter we cut the centre back to 

 about the same as the previous year, bringing down the youno^ wood 

 to about the same angle as before, and lowering each previous year's 

 wood to the place of its predecessor ; so that, when the operation is 

 finished, the under branches are horizontal, and in their permanent 

 places. The tree will now be four years of age from the graft, and 

 possessing thirteen branches, if we allow that the two under branches 

 will not do more than make a leader for themselves after we stop 



