226 PRUNING. 



that may cross or interfere with one another. Our stand- 

 ard trees here are in the best possible condition, and have 

 not had a knife on them, except to cut scions for budding 

 or grafting-, in seven years. 



Pyramidal Headed Standards. — Certain varieties, for 

 instance, SparhawJvs Honey., Doivner''s^CMna JBigarreaii^ 

 Black Tartarian., Black Heart., and some others, make 

 fine pyramidal shaped heads without pruning, more than 

 to give the leader its due superiority at the beginning, and 

 to remove afterwards crossing and superfluous branches. 



Such varieties as the Yellow Spanish, Black Eagle, 

 Knight's Ey. Black, Elton, and all the spreading sorts, 

 should have round open heads built upon three or four 

 main branches as described. 



Pruning the Cherry as a Pyramid. — The same process 

 recommended for the pyramidal training of the pear and 

 apple, may be applied with complete success to the cherry. 

 We have now in our specimen grounds a collection of all 

 the classes trained, according to the method described, 

 and their condition is in every respect satisfactory ; they 

 have all given fruit the third year. 



In most cases the trees were taken from the nursery 

 rows at the end of their first season's growth from the bud. 

 Some had no side branches, and others had. It is very 

 common for cherries and especially the Dukes and Morel' 

 los to form a number of lateral branches the first season. 

 Growth becomes slightly suspended, or at least goes on 

 very slowly in July ; during this time the buds on the 

 lower part acquire a sort of maturity, and when a new 

 growth commences they push and form shoots. Cherry 

 trees of this kind are in a good condition foi* pyramids. 

 "VVe select from th6se the strongest and best situated to 

 form the lower tier of permanent branches ; the lower ones 

 are shortened to four or five buds, and the upper ones to 

 two or three. The leader or stem is cut back to within 



