64 THE BOOK OF TOPIARY 



The strongest or main stem of the tree should be made 

 use of to form the straight side of the letter. Then 

 utilise the two remaining stems in forming the two 

 halves of the B. The one that is growing in the most 

 suitable position for the purpose can be bent round to 

 form the top half ; while the other stem is made to do 

 the same in the case of the bottom part. In very much 

 the same way the letters C, D, E and F can be trained, 

 or even any letter of the alphabet. There is not a 

 single letter from A to Z that it is not possible to 

 train into shape ; some are perhaps more difficult than 

 others to do, but they can all be done, and well done, 

 if they are carefully handled. The principal thing to 

 remember is the selecting of trees that are most suitable 

 for the purpose. Always aim at finding trees with the 

 requisite number of shoots that will be required to form 

 the different parts of the letter it is intended to make. 

 If it is the intention of the Topiarist to form one or more 

 letters of the alphabet, trees for the purpose should if 

 possible be selected some years before being wanted, 

 and should be prepared for the work intended. Trees 

 that are so prepared beforehand will immediately they 

 are planted in the garden be in a fit condition to shape 

 into letters at once. If the trees are treated in this way, 

 it will in a marked degree do away with the necessity of 

 keeping the letters for several years in the garden in the 

 ugly first stages of formation. There must, of course, 

 be always a time when any tree that is being trained 

 looks unsightly to the person who is new to the art of 

 Topiary work. In the training of letters especially, it 

 will be found much safer, and certainly a great deal 

 easier, if iron frameworks are used. This certainly 

 simplifies the work to a great extent. By using a light 

 framework, a more equally proportioned letter can be 

 made than will be the case if the more rough and ready 

 method of using wooden supports be practised. Of 



