THE PYRAMIDAL PEAR TREES. 



the lower part of the shoot. These side shoots arc left to grow till the 

 end of May. They have then pushed out to about four or five inches 

 in length. The ends of all these side shoots are then pinched off, 

 leaving only about an inch and a half at the bottom of the shoot. 



Fig. 3. shows one of the branches, with the side shoots, as they 

 are at the end of June. The dotted lines, 6, b, show the point to 

 which these shoots should be pinched off. 



The terminal or leading shoot, c, is left entire, in order to draw up 

 the sap, which would otherwise force all the side .shoots into new 

 growth. Notwithstanding this precaution, in luxuriant seasons the 

 side shoots will frequently push out new shoots again, just below 

 where they were pinched. This being the case, about ths last of Au- 

 gust M. Cappe shortens back these new side shoots to about an inch and a half. But this 

 time he does not pinch them off. He breaks them, and leaves the broken end for several 

 days attached and hanging down, so that the flow of sap is not so suddenly checked as 

 when the branch is pinched or cut off — and the danger of new shoots being forced out a 

 tliird time is thereby effectually guarded against. 



The object of this stopping the side branches, is to accumu- 

 late the sap, or, more properly, the organizable matter in these 

 shortened branches, by which means the remaining buds be- 

 come fruit-buds instead of wood-buds. They also become 

 spurs, distributed over the whole tree, which bear regularly 

 year after year — sending out new side shoots, which are 

 pinched back in the same manner every summer. 



In order to keep the tree finely proportioned, the eye of the 

 pruner must be a nice one, that.he may, with a glance, regu- 

 late the pruning of the terminal branches or leaders, which, 

 as we have just said, are shortened back in ^larch — for then 

 is the time to adjust any extravagancies of growth which the 

 tree may have run into, on either side: and in the summer 

 pinching the balance of growth is adjusted by pinching the side shoots that start out near- 

 est the ends of the branches, quite short, say an inch and a half, while those that start 

 near the bottom of the branch, (or the center of the tree,) where they have less nourish- 

 ment, are left from four to five inches long. 



Understanding this mode of pruning, nothing is easier than to form pyramidal pear 

 trees of the most perfect symmetry, and beauty of form. But in order to have the branch- 

 es regularly produced from the ground to the summit, you must plant a tree which is only 

 a couple of feet high, so that you can form the first tier of branches quite near the ground, 

 by cutting back the leader at the very outset — for if the tree is once allowed to form a 

 clean body or stem, of course it is impossible afterwards to give it the requisite shape and 

 fullness of branches at the bottom. 



Our readers will see that we are not giving this account for the benefit of our orchard- 

 ists. It is a refinement in horticulture which belongs to the fiuit garden — but which avcU 

 repays the amateur or practical gardener, both bj' the increased fruitfulness and beauty of 

 the trees. From the especi;illy health}' condition of the trees in the Jardin des Plant's, 

 as well as from other analogous instances, we are led to believe that by the fine clothing 

 age which protects tlie bark of the trunk and branches from the violence of the sun 

 pyramidal trees will be found less liable to many diseases that attack the pea 



