PRUNING OP PEAR TREES. 55 



Spiral Cordons are treated in the same way as to spurs and 

 distances. Three trees together may thus be grown (each on 

 a single Cordon), if so wished, because the length of the 

 spiral neutralizes the otherwise too great growth. Or one 

 tree with three leaders may be trained thus. Most handsome 

 and prolific trees they will be, and very amusing to watcli. 

 They are also very suitable for small gardens, as standards. 

 Indeed, there is no better form in this case. 



Standard pear trees require some peculiar variations in 

 their treatment. The shoots which are nearest to the main 

 stem, and on the branches, will be generally weak, and should 

 not be interfered with, as they are almost sure to become 

 fruitful in time. The next on the branch, higher vj), if under 

 four inches in length, should also not be interfered witli ; but 

 those on the highest portions of the branches will always 

 grow freely, because the sap flows thither vigorously. 



Tliat mode, which is the same in principle, of bending the 

 branches towards each other, is also a good way of checking 

 a vigorous tree ; but with a weak-growing tree it is useless. 

 Moreover, the ends of the branches thus bent should be let 

 loose in time, or they will dry up, and the vertical spurs must 

 be closely watched. 



Horizontal, or fan-shaped pear trees, are trained on these 

 same principles. The lowest stage of branches must not be 

 lowered too soon, as before said. 



These must be pinched to four buds, and the further 

 growths each to one bud more. In the winter they must be 

 broken at three buds. The very strong shoots should be only 

 partially broken through, instead of pinching them off, and 

 broken otf quite at the winter pruning. The horizontal 

 shoots are more fruit-bearing than the vertical. These last 

 are annoying, and grow fast ; of course there are no spurs 

 with two shoots on them, as in wall cordons, but each spur is 

 a single one. 



The maximum of inclination of any brancli from the main 

 stem is seventy degrees. As the tree grows, shorten the lead- 

 ers each winter, and the leading side branches by one-third, 



