THE APPLE AI^D THE PEAR. 



209 



general rule, that the w:ore feeble the plant^ and tlie 

 smaller and the more imperfectly devclojped the huds^ the 

 loioer it is necessary to cut. 



The condition of the roots, too, must be taken into 

 account ; for where the roots are weak, broken, or injured, 

 and consequently unfit to yield to the stem any considera- 

 ble amount of nutriment, the buds will break with less 

 force, and a more severe retrenchment will be necessary. 

 All these circumstances must be considered. 

 For example, we will take a young pear tree 

 of one year's growth from the bud, without 

 branches (fig. 104), which we will suppose to 

 be four feet, which is the ordinary average 

 height of yearlings. If the buds are full and 

 prominent on it, we cut to a good bud at 

 twenty inches from the stock ; but if the buds 

 are less prominent, cut to fifteen or eighteen 

 inches, and if very feeble, with small buds, 

 cut to within twelve inches, or five or six 

 buds of the stock. If the roots have been 

 injured much, and the stem somewhat dried 

 or shrivelled, it should be cut to within three ches. The cross- 

 or four buds of the base. These difterent l^"^ ^"^*^^'"' *^'^ 



first pruning or 



cases are mentioned because it frequently cutting back. 

 happens that persons who live at a great distance from 

 nurseries, find their trees frequently, on their arrival, in 

 the condition described, and it is necessary that a course 

 of treatment for them should be indicated. The bud cut 

 to, should, if possible, be one of the best on the stem, and 

 be on the side of the tree opposite that in which the bud 

 was inserted, so as to continue the stem in a straight line. 

 It is a great advantage to have a tree well established 

 in the ground, before cutting it back to produce the first 

 branches to form the pyramid ; because, in that condition, 

 it is capable of producing vigorous shoots the first season. 



Fig. 104. 

 A yearling pear 

 tree without bran- 



