COMPACT PYRAMIDS. 



had to the vigor of the tree. If the soil be rich, the 

 trees vigorous, and not root-pruned, the shoots may 

 be left the maximum length ; if, on the contrary, 

 they be root-pruned, and not inclined to vigorous 

 growth, they must be pruned more closely. 



COMPACT PYRAMIDS. 



If pyramidal fruit trees, either of pears, apples, 

 plums, or cherries, are biennially removed, or even 

 thoroughly root-pruned, without actually removing 

 them, summer pinching becomes the most simple of 

 all operations. The cultivator has only to look over 

 his trees twice a week during June, July, and August 

 (penknife in hand), and cut or pinch in every shoot 

 on the lateral or side branches that has made four 

 leaves or more, down to three full-sized leaves. It is 

 just possible that the three buds belonging to these 

 three leaves will put forth three young shoots : as 

 soon as they have made their four or five leaves, they 

 must be shortened to two, and so on with every young 

 shoot made during the summer, shortening the lead- 

 ing shoot also to three leaves. This method of close 

 pinching represses the vigor of the tree to a great 

 extent, and, in soils that are not very rich, trees under 

 it will not require root-pruning. It is a most agree- 

 able method of treating pyramidal trees, for no strag- 

 gling shoots are seen, and in small neatly-kept gar- 

 dens this is a great relief. The pinched shoots in 

 these compact pyramids become too much crowded 

 with blossom-spurs, they should therefore be thinned 

 in winter with a sharp pruning-knife. 



