52 THE PEAK. 



TRAINING AND PRUNING OF PEAR TREES. 



The pear is cultivated both as a standard and espalier. 

 The forms in which it may be trained are various ; 

 but what we shall now consider are the following : full 

 standards, the pyramid or cone, the vase or goblet, the 

 column, the double contra-espalier in vertical cordon, 

 and tall standards ; for espaliers, the Yerrier palmette, 

 the simple oblique cordon, and vertical cordon. These 

 forms are the most simple and easily obtained ; they 

 are suitable for the places most frequently assigned to 

 the pear, and trees submitted to these forms are durable 

 and fertile. 



TRAINING OF A PEAR TREE IN PYRAMIDAL FORM. 



In this operation we shall consider separately the 

 formation of the wood and of the fruit-branches. 



Formation of the Wood. A tree trained in this form 

 (fig. 35) is composed of a vertical stem furnished from 

 the top downwards, to a foot above the soil, with lateral 

 branches, the length of which should increase down to 

 the base. Each lateral branch should have an interval 

 of twelve inches between it and the branch immediately 

 above, allowing the light to penetrate between them. 

 They should be kept free from bifurcations and furnished 

 with fruit - branches alone, from end to end, and form 

 an angle with the horizon of 25 degrees at the most. 

 In general, the widest diameter of the pyramid should 

 equal the third part of its height ; if the height be six 



