226 PRUNING. 



and consequently unfit to yield to the stem any considera- 

 ble amount of nutriment, the buds will break with less 

 force, and a more severe retrenchment will be necessary. 

 All these circumstances must be consid- 

 ered. For example, we will take a younr; 

 pear-tree, of one year's growth from the 

 bud, without branches (fig. 109), which 

 we will suppose to bo four feet, which is 

 the ordinary average hight of yearlings. 

 If the buds are full and prominent on it, 

 we cut to a good bud, about twenty 

 inches from the stock ; but if the buds 

 are less prominent, cut to fifteen or 

 eighteen inches, and if very feeble, with 

 small buds, cut to within twelve inches, 

 or five or six buds of the stock. If the 

 roots have been injured much, and the 

 stem somewhat dried or shrivelled, it 

 should be cut to within three or four 

 buds of the base. These different cases 

 are mentioned because it frequently hap- 

 pens that persons who live at a great 

 distance from nurseries often find their 

 trees, on their arrival, in the condition de- 

 scribed, and it is necessary that a course 

 of treatment for them should be indicated. 

 The bud cut to should, if possible, be one 

 of the best on the stem, and be on the 

 Fig. 107. side of the tree opposite that in which the 

 A yearling pear- bud was inserted, so as to continue the 

 tree without bran- gtem j n a straight line. 



dies. The cross- T . 



line indicates the At is a great advantage to have a tree 

 first pruning or we ]j[ established in the ground before cut- 

 cutting back. . , . . 3 



ting it back, to produce the first branches 



to form the pyramid; because, in that condition, it is 

 capable of producing vigorous shoots the first season. It 



