RIVERS ON PYRAMIDS 359 



produced ; one of these must be made the leader, and if not 

 inclined to be quite perpendicular, it must be fastened to a 

 stake. As soon, in summer, as the leading shoot is ten 

 inches long, its end must be pinched off; and if it pushes 

 forth two or more shoots, pinch off all but one to three 

 leaves, leaving the topmost for a leader. The side shoots 

 will, in most cases, assume a regular shape; if not, they 

 may be this first season tied to slight stakes to make them 

 grow in the proper direction. This is best done by bring- 

 ing down and fastening the end of each shoot to a slight 

 stake, so that an open pyramid may be formed for if it is 

 too close and cypress -like, enough air is not admitted to 

 the fruit. They may remain unpruned till the end of 

 August, when each shoot must be shortened to within eight 

 buds of the stem. 



"The second season the tree will make vigorous growth; 

 the side shoots which were topped last August will each 

 put forth three, four, or more shoots. In June, as soon as 

 these have made five or six leaves, they must be pinched 

 off to three leaves, and if these spurs put forth shoots, 

 which they often do, every shoot must be pinched down 

 to one or two leaves, all but the leading shoot of each side 

 branch; this must be left on to exhaust the tree of its 

 superabundant sap, till the end of August, unless the tree 

 is being trained as a compact pyramid. The perpendicular 

 leader must be topped once or twice; in short, as soon as 

 it has grown ten inches, pinch off its top, and if it break 

 into two or three shoots, pinch them all but the leader, as 

 directed for the first season: in a few years most sym- 

 metrical trees may be formed. 



"When they have attained the height of six or eight 

 feet, and are still in a vigorous state, it will be necessary 

 to commence root-pruning, to bring them into a fruitful 

 state. 



"If some of the buds on the stem of a young tree prove 

 dormant, so that part of it is bare and without a shoot 



