THE APPLE AND THE PEAR. 235 



four to six branches on each ; the leading shoot is from 

 one to three feet in length. 



The average hight of three-year-old trees, on the 

 quince, in our grounds, transplanted at one year old, and 

 twice pruned, is five to six feet. A few very vigorous- 

 growing varieties, that throw up a leader every season 

 three to four feet in length, are seven to eight feet ; but 

 these are comparatively few in number. 



Third Pruning. This is done on precisely the same 

 principles laid down for the second. The leader of the 

 stems is cut back in proportion to its vigor; the lateral 

 branches are also shortened in the same manner. It 

 must always be kept in mind that the lowest branches 

 must be longest ; and when it happens that they do not 

 take their due proportion of vigor, as compared with 

 those above them, and if pinching has not been duly at- 

 tended to the past summer, to maintain regularity, the 

 weaker must now be favored with a long pruning. 



It has been remarked that the habits of growth and 

 bearing of the pear and apple are similar, but it should 

 be noted that, in treating them as pyramids, the apple- 

 tree is more liable to lose its vigor at the top, and there- 

 fore it is necessary to keep an eye to this point in their 

 management. From what has been said with reference 

 to an equal distribution of the sap, the remedy for this 

 difficulty will be obvious, viz., to reduce the vigor of the 

 lower parts by pinching, shortening, and heavy crops, 

 and to favor the upper part by long pruning and thin- 

 ning, or wholly removing the fruits. 



Management of the Fruit Branches. About the sixth 

 to the eighth year, from the first pruning of the tree, it 

 will have attained nearly as great dimensions as, in many 

 cases, will be desirable, and be well furnished with fruit 

 branches. 



After this period, the object of the pruning will be to 

 prevent the extension of the tree, and maintain the fruit- 



