•204 



GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



as nearly as possible to that indicated between a and& in fig. 12. We see in the 

 figure some short lateral shoots crowding towards the centro: all these, if 

 present, should be pruned away. 

 After this, careful pruning is all 

 the tree requires, taking care that 

 the lower branches are not shaded 

 "by the upper ones, which is at- 

 tained by pruning them at greater 

 length than those above ; for it 

 is one of the great principles 

 on which this mode of training 

 has been advocated, that the 

 trees should be so managed that 

 the advancing tier of branches 

 shall not interfere vpith the swell- 

 ing and ripening of the fruit on the 

 lower tier by overshading them. 

 During every summer all super- 

 fluous shoots should be rubbed 

 off as they appear, and all strong 

 shoots in the spurs should also 

 be stopped during that season, in 

 order to insure vigorous action in 

 the remaining buds, while the 

 base of the pyramid is to be 

 extended as far as is consistent 

 with the development of fruit- 

 bearing habits : and this will pro- 

 bably be best attained by making 

 it a rule, that as soon as a shoot 

 has extended from eight to ten 

 inches, the point should be cut. 

 By this practice the more power- 

 ful shoots are checked and the 

 weaker shoots encouraged. The 

 advantages derived from this 

 ■ system of training may be stated 

 :as follows : — 



1. An increased number of trees 



in the same space. 



2. The trainer has his trees more 



directly under control. 

 8. Increase of crops, 

 4. Oniamental and unifonn 



appearance. 



Ficj. 13. 



