THE APPLE AND THE PEAR. 229 



set of main branches. The best disposition to make of 

 such trees would be to conduct them in the form of 

 dwarf standards, which they really are at present ; but it 

 happens that, in some cases, it is desired to convert them 

 into pyramids, and therefore it is essential that the proper 

 means be pointed out. Two-year-old trees, like yearlings, 

 differ materially in the character of the buds on the lower 

 part of the stem.- On some, these are quite prominent, so 

 much so as to appear to have made some advance towards 

 development, while in others they are quite flat and dor- 

 mant. It is obvious that trees in the first condition will 

 not require that severe retrenchment on the head, to pro- 

 duce branches below, as the last. In this case it will 

 generally be sufficient, and especially if the space be- 

 tween the stock and first branches does not exceed two 

 feet, to cut back the leader to three buds, and the lateral 

 branches below it to one bud ; but when the buds are 

 small and backward, or when the branchless space is over 

 two feet in length, the two-year-old wood must be cut 

 back to within eighteen inches to two feet of the base. 

 The formation of lateral branches is encouraged by cut- 

 ting notches in the stem, above a bud, at the point where 

 the branch is desired. We find that in the case of im- 

 ported trees, or those carried a great distance, and more 

 or less injured, nothing short of this severe cutting can 

 insure branches low enough to form a pyramidal tree. 

 It seems a great pity to cut back a tree in this manner, 

 and lose a year or two of its growth and bearing, but it 

 is absolutely necessary when the pyramidal form is want- 

 ed. There is still another class of trees that we sometimes 

 see sent out from the nurseries. These are two or three 

 years old ; have been cut back, and are pretty well fur- 

 nished, in all their length, with lateral branches, but, from 

 the want of proper care, those on the upper parts have 

 acquired greater vigor than those below, presenting the 

 tree in a situation just the reverse, in this respect, of what 



