10 THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



leader of these ready -formed pyramids need not be 

 shortened in summer, as directed for younger trees ; 

 it may be suffered to grow till the horizontal leaders 

 are shortened in August, and then left six or eight 

 inches in length ; but if the trees are to be kept to 

 six or seven feet in height under root-pruning, this 

 leading shoot may be shortened to two inches, or even 

 cut close down to its base. For tall pyramids of ten, 

 twelve, or fifteen feet, it may be left from eight to ten 

 inches in length till the required height be attained ; 

 it may then be cut to within two inches of its base 

 every season. 



I ought here to remark that pear trees differ in 

 their habits to an extraordinary degree : some make 

 shoots most robust and vigorous ; others, under pre- 

 cisely the same treatment, are very delicate and slen- 

 der. In the final shortening in August this must be 

 attended to ; those that are very vigorous must not 

 have their shoots pruned so closely as those that are 

 less so ; indeed, almost every variety will require some 

 little modification in pruning, of which experience is 

 by far the best teacher. It will, I think, suffice, if I 

 give the following directions for shortening the lead- 

 ers of the side shoots, and the perpendicular lead- 

 ers : All those that are very robust, such as Beurre 

 d'Amanlis, Vicar of Winkfield, Beurre Diel, &c., 

 shorten to eight or ten inches, according to the vigor 

 of the individual tree ; those of medium vigor, such 

 as Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, and Beurre 

 d'Aremburg, to six inches; those that are delicate 

 and slender in their growth, like Winter ISTelis, to 

 four inches ; but I must repeat that regard must be 



