202 



GARDEN MANAGEME^T. 



orchards, chiefly with pear-trees, but it is equally applicable for apples, cherries, 

 and plums. The form is, of course, the result of pruning, as well as training, 

 a young tree with a single strong leader, which may be obtained at any of 

 the nurseries, though the best and surest way would be to plant stocks where 

 the trees are to stand, and gi-aft them with suitable varieties for the purpose, 

 taking care that one shoot only is allowed to spring from the graft. If 

 they are procm-ed from the nursery, plant them in properly-prepared stations, 

 as already described, supported by a strong stake driven 

 firmly into the soil, and leave them for a year, in order 

 that the roots may have a secure hold of the soil, and 

 send up plenty of sap when the growth commences, to 

 push the buds strongly. We will assume that the young 

 trees have plenty of buds nearly 

 down to the graft ; then, in the fol- 

 lowing autumn, cut off the top of 

 the shoot at a, fig. 7, with a clean 

 cut. At the end of the second year 

 it will have made several shoots, and 

 will probably, in many respects, re- 

 semble fig. 8 ; but as we still require 

 vigorous growth, it will be neces- 

 sary to cut in again severely at a 

 and h, h. The summer following, the 

 side-shoots will spring forth with 

 great vigour, spreading on all sides ; 

 and now the first foundation of the 

 pyramidal form is laid, by extending the shoots horizontally, and tying them 

 firmly to stakes so placed that the range of branches 

 forming the bottom of the pyramid should project 

 away from the tree at nearly right angles, and at 

 equal distances from each other. If they are too 

 numerous, the superfluous shoots should be cut off. The 

 third summer, if it continues in a healthy state, the 

 tree will present the appearance of fig. 9, with this ex- 

 ception, that the lower branches will be more horizontal 

 than they are here represented in consequence of being 

 tied to the stakes. If some of the branches have grown 

 more vigorously than others during the summer, such 

 shoots should be pruned in to where the lines cross 

 the branches. On the other hand, should others 

 develop themselves feebly, they should be left at their 

 full length, so that the descending sap, elaborated by 

 the leaves, should deposit a larger amount of cambium. 

 Strong shoots may also have their vigour modified by 

 making an incision immediately below their jimction 



Fig. 7. 



Fig. 8. 



