APPLES. 89 



branches than the other, and all the branches distinct 

 and apart from each other. This regularity of growth 

 will not be difficult to keep up, by observing in every 

 leading shoot that is pruned the growth which is required, 

 and cutting it accordingly back to a bud which tends 

 towards the centre of the tree, or points outwards, not 

 to one pointing sideways to right or left. There must 

 never be branches enough left to crowd each other ; but 

 the tree must be kept open in the centre, to let in plenty 

 of sun and air. 



The prettiest espalier, or wall tree, is formed with a 

 centre upright shoot, and side-shoots from it on each 

 side, to match each other. They must be early trained 

 to stakes, to get them to form. A wall is seldom granted 

 to an apple tree. 



Apples of a compact, upright, cypress-like habit of 

 growth are fit for pyramids, but require horizontal 

 training of the side branches, to admit air. Those that 

 are horizontal and crooked in growth make good bushes. 

 All pears on quince stocks, and apples on Doucin or 

 Paradise stocks, will need thinning out of the fruit. 



Training en cordon horizontal is a French fashion, and 

 may be used as an edge to the borders. A tree on a 

 Paradise stock, with a single stem, is set in slanting, and 

 trained along a rod, fixed ten inches above the ground, 

 and horizontal to it. The wire is supported by pins 

 here and there ; the end of the tree is never shortened, 

 but the side-shoots are continually kept pinched back to 

 three leaves all the summer. It will often grow very 

 long, and produce fine fruit. 



Pyramids of apples on crab stocks, or pears on pears, 

 may be trained into handsome pyramidal trees, twelve or 

 fifteen feet high. Pinching back must be carefully 

 attended to. 



The apple may be treated the same as the pear in 

 continual pinching back to three leaves each, all except 

 the leading shoots, throughout the summer, and cutting 

 them later in the season, as recommended in a former 

 chapter. 



The fruit must be thinned in June, and especial care 



