THE PEAR. 65 



scribe the operations that promote the growth of fruit- 

 branches, and the care and treatment they require. 



The fruit-branches of pepin fruits that have been 

 regularly pruned every year, ought now to be growing 

 upon the entire length of every branch without inter- 

 ruptions. In open standards the fruit-branches ought 

 to occupy the entire circumference of the tree. In 

 espaliers the only part without them is that against the 

 wall. The fruit-branches are generally constituted 

 towards the end of the third year following their first 

 development. If this result is obtained earlier, it indi- 

 cates a diseased or enfeebled condition in the part of 

 the tree where they grow. 



The fruit-branches are kept as short as possible, that 

 the fruits may be close to the principal branches ; they 

 will then receive the most direct action of the sap, and 

 become larger than if placed at a further distance from 

 its source. We shall now explain how these different 

 results are to be obtained. 



First Year. Fruit-branches are developed from the 

 less vigorous buds upon the wood-branches. In order 

 to obtain a continued series of fruit-buds upon the 

 entire length of a branch extension, it is necessary to 

 cut back a little of the branch, otherwise the wood-buds 

 on one part, towards the base, will remain undeveloped. 

 We have already given directions, p. 39, as to the 

 length that the branch extensions should be cut back 

 according to their degree of inclination. 



Suppose the pruning has been duly performed upon 

 the branch extension (fig. 45), by the beginning of 

 May the branch will be covered with buds upon its 



