56 The Fruit and Kitchen Gardens^ near Paris. 



mode of operation. In the tree selected for illustration, BI. 

 Hardy pointed out faults, from not pinching the shoots in the 

 previous summer : and some others in consequence of former 

 winter pruning. The reasons for cutting each branch as he 

 did were successively given, as well as an explanation of the 

 bad effects of cutting otherwise; and ultimately the pruning 

 of the tree was completed in good style. We had an oppor- 

 tunity of closely examining it after the lecture was over. 



" We then inspected the different quarters planted with pyr- 

 amid pear and apple trees, and those containing cherry and 

 plum trees. As there is no wall for peach trees, these are 

 trained against a trellis, backed with straw mats ; and, with 

 this assistance, the fruit ripens perfectly well. 



" All the quarters containing fruit trees are surrounded with 

 borders, planted with cherry, plum, and apricot trees, as 

 standards ; and some with excellent effect are trained inform 

 of a Vase, or en Gobclet, dwarf, or with a stem 5 feet or rather 

 more in height. The head is formed hollov/, in shape like a 

 goblet, the shoots being annually tied to hoops of wood, 

 adapted to the circumference required to give the desired form. 

 Two hoops are sufficient, the two-year old wood being tied to 

 one ; and the equidistant regulation of the one-year old shoots, 

 is effected upon the other. As the vase or goblet widens, of 

 course hoops of greater circuit must be prepared, either of new 

 materials, or by introducing an additional piece. In some in- 

 stances, the hoops are formed of round, apparently J inch, 

 iron rods ; but wood is preferable to iron, for vegetation in 

 contact with the latter, is apt to be injuriously affected, by the 

 rapidity with which it heats and cools. Shoots are apt to 

 spring up in the centre of the goblet ; but they must be pinch- 

 ed in summer ; and so all other irregularities of growth ap- 

 pear likewise to have been. The form is very ornamental ; 

 it can be produced at little expense; and the trees were well 

 furnished with fruit buds. Suppose a tree to have 6 shoots, 

 let them be tied at equal distances to a hoop placed horizon- 

 tally, and then shortened a few inches above it, or so as to 

 leave them a foot or more in length. From each of these, 

 two shoots may be trained to the outside of a somewhat wider 

 hoop, in the following season ; and thus, by annually intro- 

 ducing hoops of a width proportionately corresponding with 



