276 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



the lowest branches will be left the longest, the object of 

 which is to check the natural flow of sap to the upper 

 branches, and induce it to flow more forcibly to the lower 

 ones, increasing in vigor and force of the latter as much as 

 possible, which must be done at that time or never. 



"The Fig. 198 represents a three-year-old tree, after it 

 has been pruned at two years old and made the third years' 

 growth, and showing where it should be cut back at that 

 time. All subsequent pruning will become easy to any one 

 who has attended to these directions thus far observing 

 the same principles thinning out or cutting back any sec- 

 ondary or other branches, as shall seem necessary to admit 

 light and air, or give vigor or symmetry of form to the 

 tree ; but as the greater force of sap will flow to the central 

 and upright branches, they will need to be cut-back most, 

 retaining as near as may be the pyramidal form. Pruning 

 may be done at any time from November to April." 



These trees, shown in Figs. 197 and 198, start 

 out with a pyramidal treatment, but as they ma- 

 ture, they approach the form shown in Fig. 196 ; 

 and the Yeomans trees are now not over twelve 

 feet high, although nearly fifty years old. 



Other illustrations may elucidate some of the 

 ways of treating dwarf pears. Fig. 199 is a 

 tree at the end of its first season's growth in 

 the orchard. The forks near the ends of the 

 branches show where it was cut at planting 

 time. Fig. 200 shows the way in which it was 

 again pruned. 



A dwarf pear three years set is shown in Fig. 

 201. The top "was started wrong, with only two 

 branches and these in the form of a crotch. 



