78 FRUIT GARDEN COMPANION. 



taken off to three or four in number of the strongest 

 and healthiest, as they are intended to form the 

 tree. During the summer the young shoots may be 

 cleared of any filth or insects that may be detrimen- 

 tal to them. In the following spring the trees must 

 be pruned in such a manner as to form a regular 

 handsome head. It will be recollected that is the the 

 proper time to form a handsome tree, as each branch 

 being formed from a common centre, draws sap in 

 proportion to its luxuriance ; and they afterwards 

 form lateral or side shoots in proportion to their 

 vigor ; therefore it must be evident to any intelligent 

 observer that the formation of a tree in its infant 

 state is of the greatest importance. 



It will be often seen that one shoot is much more 

 luxuriant than another, which is owing to its being 

 of a more succulent nature, and consequently draws 

 a greater portion of sap : by heading down those 

 shoots to three or four eyes in the spring the luxuri- 

 ance will be divided into so many parts, and bring it 

 on a balance with the other parts of the tree. This 

 method may be continued for two or three years, 

 when the habit or shape of the tree will be seen. 

 The port or habit of fruit trees should be considered ; 

 as the laws of nature are not easily reversed to any 

 advantage, consequently they should be as much as 

 possible cherished, for by practical observation 

 (which is always the best guide to perfection,) it will 

 be seen that some trees grow in a pyramidal form, 

 some weeping, others conical, and some forma regu- 

 lar head of an even circumference at the bottom, 

 and tapering on the top in the form of a dome. 

 The first of these habits, the pyramid, is beauti- 

 fully exemplified in the young trees of the button-ball 



