DWARF FRUIT TREES 



83 



the lowest lateral leaders being cut back a little, each one higher 

 up perhaps more and the vertical stem or main leader most so as to 

 maintain the pyramidal outline of the tree. A good proportion 

 for a pyramidal tree is a spread of the lowest branches about one- third 

 the height. The height and the size of the tree may be kept prac- 

 tically the same after, say, five to ten years by the amount of dor- 

 mant pruning given the leaders. 



THE PALMETTE FORM is never used where the trees must stand 

 alone, only when trained to a stake, upon a trellis, against a wall or 

 a fence. Pruning of the 

 newly set tree is as in- 

 dicated for the pyramid. 

 The uppermost bud will 

 form a new leader; the 

 two best placed but op- 

 posite buds that develop 

 into shoots below this 

 must be fastened obliquely 

 upward on opposite sides 

 of the main stem. All 

 other shoots must be cut 

 off close to the trunk. 

 No other arms must be 

 allowed to form the first 

 season, side shoots on all 

 the young growths being 

 pinched back as already 

 indicated in discussing the 

 pyramid. No other atten- 

 tion is necessary the first 

 season unless the vertical 

 leader is growing too ram- 

 pantly, when its tip may 

 be pinched back to favor 

 the two secondary or oblique two leaders. 



Before the buds swell the second Spring cut off all but about a 

 foot of the principal or erect leader (8 or 10 inches may often do) 

 above the oblique leaders (arms, they are often called). Let the 

 uppermost b ud develop a new vertical leader, and the two best placed 

 opposite one s as nearly as possible immediately above the two oblique 

 leaders alrea dy developed. During the growing season pinch back the 

 small lateral s and cut off superfluous ones as before. These processes 

 a re repeated year after year so that in time half a dozen to a score or 



Fig. 65. The second season after 

 dwarf Bartlett Pear tree 



ntmg a 



