274 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



of attaining a degree of success highly satisfactory and 

 profitable. 



" A dwarf pear tree should never be planted at one year 

 old. A good one-year-old tree consists of a single upright 

 shoot or stem, from three and one -half to five feet high, 

 and should be cut off at about two feet from the ground; 

 and in order to give a smooth, handsome stem or trunk, let 

 the buds be rubbed off to the height of one foot from the 

 ground, leaving on the upper portion six to nine buds, 

 more or less. With, the tree standing in its original posi- 

 tion in full vigor, and cut back as above stated, each one of 

 these buds will throw out a good, strong branch, which gives 

 a full, round, distaff form to the tree. This is the time and 

 manner, and the only time, when that desirable shape can 

 be given on which the future form and symmetry and 

 beauty depends. To avoid what is termed a crotched or 

 forked-top tree, in which the two uppermost branches are 

 about of equal vigor and height, let the second branch 

 from the top be pinched off when about nine inches or a 

 foot long, which will check and weaken it, while the upper- 

 most one becomes a strong, central leader. Whereas, if 

 the tree be transplanted at one year old, and cut back as 

 above stated, the vital forces of the tree will be weakened 

 half or three -fourths by transplanting, and as the result, 

 only two or three (more or less) of the buds on the trunk 

 will grow so as to form branches, and they, perhaps, only at 

 the top or all on one side, while the remaining buds remain 

 dormant, never afterwards to be developed, as the other 

 branches form new channels, which will more readily carry 

 the sap to the other and upper portions of the trees. 



"For transplanting, therefore, let a tree be two or more 

 years old from the bud, well cut back at one year old, and 

 with six to nine main branches, which form the framework 

 or foundation, which is to give form and character to the 

 future tree, with proper care and management. 



"The annexed cut (Fig. 197) will illustrate a two-year-old 



