198 [ THE PEAR TREE 



The operation may be repeated as many times as 

 necessary, should the second leader or its successors 

 again fail to form spontaneously the lateral branches 

 required to keep up the pyramidal form. Trees so 

 trained are called pyramids, and are more productive 

 and produce finer fruits than trees with the bushy habit 

 above mentioned. 



The fusiform shape (fuseau] is a pyramid with a more 

 pronounced development in height and with a corre- 

 sponding reduction in the length of the lateral branches. 

 The leader is accordingly never or rarely shortened, but 

 if necessary is induced to form lateral branches by 

 partially notching or ringing the stem below the bud 

 which it is desired to develop into a branch. The 

 lateral branches require to be trimmed carefully to 

 shape, this trimming being also necessary to bring the 

 tree to fruiting condition. This training of the pear is 

 suitable for the gardens of amateurs, where in the 

 small space available it is frequently desired to grow 

 many varieties, and this also without shading the ground 

 unduly for the cultivation of vegetables. The vegetation 

 of the tree so trained is necessarily dense, with conse- 

 quent detriment to its productiveness and to the quality 

 of the fruit. 



The "vase" and the "contre-espallier" are two types 

 which are rarely found in our gardens. They require 

 the assistance of a permanent construction of wood or 

 iron to sustain the shape of the tree, and this shape 

 can be obtained only by the exercise of much skill 

 and patience, which however are amply repaid by 

 increased productiveness, and also by the great beauty 

 and perfect quality of the fruit produced by trees so 

 trained. 



The vase is produced by stopping the leader to 

 about half a metre above the ground; the uppermost 

 four lateral shoots which are then produced, are retained 

 and trained horizontally in opposite directions to form 



