402 



THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OF PAEIS. [Chap. XXIII. 



the longer are the portions cut off. The succeeding prunings 

 differ nothing in principle from the others, future development 

 taking place principally in the middle and higher parts of the 

 tree. Care should be taken to guide in the desired direction by- 

 means of twine, and sometimes slender stakes, any branches that 

 may have deviated from it. Thus the pruning is carried on till 



Pyramidal Pear-tree. Fifth pruning. 



the tree becomes a large and perfect pyramid, the laterals being 

 well j)inched in, and in every case a free terminal shoot being 

 allowed to proceed from each, so that the tree may be kept equally 

 balanced and the sap freely conducted through each branch. 

 They may of course be cut back well every year ; always, however, 

 at a bud likely to furnish a good shoot for the following season. 

 It is very questionable if the mathematically-designed pyramid 



