12 REPORT ON THE 



where they originate. They rarely push again ; but if they do, 

 their growths are again reduced as before. 



The winter pruning of pyramid Pear-trees is almost reduced 

 to a mechanical operation, when the summer management has 

 been properly attended to. Keeping the tapering form in view, 

 it consists in cutting each shoot a little shorter than the one im- 

 mediately below it, taking care to cut to a bud situated on the 

 side of the shoot towards that direction in which it would be 

 most desirable the prolongation should proceed. Shoots that are 

 too vigorous for the rest are not cut to a bud on the upper side, 

 but to one situated below. 



Some trees appeared to be much admired by every one on 

 account of the introduction of another feature of regularity in 

 training, besides that of a merely tapering contour. These had 

 what is called a tutor, that is, a straight perpendicular stake, 

 to which the stem is trained ; and from the top of this stake five 

 wires are stretched to as many equidistant points on a hoop near 

 the ground, or in one instance to five short stakes. These wires 

 represent the angles of a five-sided pyramid a pyramid appa- 

 rently fifteen feet high on a pentagonal base. Branches are 

 trained directly from the stem to each of the wires. In order to 

 convey some idea of these trees, one may imagine five upright 

 trellises or screens projecting from a central upright, forming 

 the partitions of as many equal recesses, widening outwards. 

 The branches form such partitions with good effect as regards 

 regularity ; and when they become ornamented with leaves and 

 fruit the whole must prove an interesting sight. The trees had 

 a fruitful appearance. 



Instead of the branches radiating from the stem in five direc- 

 tions, it might be found more convenient to train them out to 

 four points, say east, west, north, and south. It may, however, 

 be observed, that, in the Pear-tree, five buds form a spiral once 

 round the shoot or stem ; or, in other words, supposing the lead- 

 ing shoot to be perpendicular, every fifth, tenth, fifteenth, &c., 

 bud will be in the same vertical plane. Therefore, if the num- 

 ber of buds between one branch and that next above it be always 

 a multiple of five, the branches radiating in each of the five di- 

 rections will originate exactly above each other. 



The trees above described had been formerly grown as pyra- 

 mids in the usual way, with branches extending promiscuously ; 

 but M. Cappe is of opinion that by commencing with a young 

 tree, the tutor and wires may be dispensed with. In exposed 

 situations the wires form excellent stays ; and where they are 

 employed, a comparatively slender stake will be sufficient. 



A curious specimen of trellis-work was standing against the 

 end of one of the sheds adjoining the plant-houses. It had been 



