PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING. 



99 



on the sides to make them tall, such mismanaged trees assume 

 the appearance of the annexed cut (Fig. 135), and have been 

 compared to a low-bowing dancing-master. A better-shaped 

 tree is shown in Fig. 136. As all nursery-trees succeed bet- 

 ter, are more sure to live, and art more vigorous and make 

 handsomer trees when set out quite young, or at not mora 

 than two years from the bud or graft, the following directions 

 apply to such trees at the time of planting and immediately 

 afterward. Three or four side-shoots 01? the unformed tree 

 (Figs. 137 and 138) should be at first selected, to form the 

 main branches and to constitute the foundation or framework 

 of the future top (see Fig. 123). In order to secure a well- 

 formed and nicely balanced head, these shoots must be fre- 

 quently watched through the first summer of growth, and if 

 any of them are disposed to take the lead 

 of the others they should be pinched and 

 checked to maintain an equality. Two 

 buds will be enough to grow on each of 

 these shoots, making eight at the end of 

 the season, taking care that all are distrib- 

 uted at equal distances (Fig. 1 39). All the 

 other shoots should be rubbed off with the 

 thumb and finger as soon as they form. 

 The second year the same process is . 

 repeated on the new shoots, and contin- 

 ued until a handsome, even, symmetrical 

 framework for the future head is obtained, 

 after which comparatively little attention 

 will be necessary. A large orchard ot 

 young trees may be managed in this way 

 with a very few days' labor far less than Fl 

 that afterward required in cutting out 

 large limbs and giving shape to the distorted tops of full- 

 grown, neglected orchards. These rules will apply, substan. 

 tially, to the pruning of standard pears, except that they 

 generally require less thinning out. 



Nearly the same course is to be pursued in forming the 

 heads of dwarf apple-trees, with the exception that the base 

 of the head should be only about ten inches from the 

 ground (Fig. 145) ; or, if they be half-standards on Doucin 



