THE PEAR. 125 



six reserved shoots ; at the third spring 'the young 

 tree will resemble figs. 110 and 111. The shoots 

 must be again cut back about sixteen inches from 

 their spring, above two buds as before. The other 

 operations must be repeated during the summer. 



By the fourth year the head of the tree is composed 

 of twelve principal branches growing at regular dis- 

 tances from and around the tree. These operations are 



Fig. ill. Plan of Fig. 110. 



sufficient to impart a good form to the tree, and little 

 more is necessary than to maintain an equal vigour in 

 the growth of the branches, and to remove, about the 

 end of May, the vigorous shoots which spring from 

 the base and interior face of the principal branches. 

 These shoots weaken the branches, and disarrange and 

 confuse the orderly growth of the tree. 



The formation and treatment of fruit-branches must, 

 in the case of standard pear trees, be left to nature. 



If, instead of grafting after one year's planting in 

 the orchard, it is more convenient to plant trees already 

 grafted, it will be well to choose such as have been 

 grafted only one or two years, and furnished with at 



