THE PEAR TREE ] 201 



the double branched or U-shaped contre-espallier. This 

 is obtained by stopping the original leader at 25 c. m. 

 from the ground, just above two buds situated in opposite 

 directions, but as nearly as possible at the same level. 

 The two shoots produced by these buds are bent 

 carefully upwards at a distance of 40 to 50 c. m. apart, 

 and then trained straight and parallel to each other. 

 Should one branch show greater vigour than its fellow, 

 it may be shortened once or twice or else tied fast 

 to its support to check its growth, to the advantage 

 of the other, and so secure equal growth. The three- 

 branched form, or gradirion, is obtained in the same 

 manner, but above the two lateral buds a third bud 

 is retained on the front side of the stem, and this 

 third bud gives origin to the middle branch, both the 

 lateral branches being bent up at a distance of 40 c. m. 

 from the middle one. The four-branched form of 

 palmette is obtained in the same way as the preceding 

 with the difference that the two shoots produced by the 

 two lateral buds are given at first a horizontal direction, 

 and are bent upwards at a distance of about 60 c. m. 

 from the stem. The leader produced by the front 

 bud is stopped at 40 c. m. and the resulting two lateral 

 and nearly opposite branches are trained as in the 

 U-shaped form. By a repetition of the above process the 

 five-branched form is obtained, taking due care to train 

 the lower branches in a manner as to make room 

 for the fifth central branch. More complicated forms 

 such as the single or double Verrier palmette should 

 be tried only on the more vigorous varieties, and 

 require more careful tending to bring to perfection. 



TRANSPLANTING. The pear tree can be transplanted 

 with perfect safety at any age from a year-old sapling to 

 a fair-sized tree in full bearing, provided that it is budded 

 or grafted on quince stock, because if the stock consists 

 of pear seedlings (poirier franc), and the tree has been 

 established in its place for some years, it will resent 



