THE APPLE AND THE PEAR. 



211 



lower to three, tlie next above to two, and the uppermost, 

 next the leading shoot, to one bnd. This will give their 

 productions a proper relative degree of vigor. The leader 

 is cut back further than in the well branched subject, 

 because it is presumed the buds are less excitable. As a 

 general thing, within four to six buds of the highest lateral, 

 or one half of its length. 



There is another class of trees necessary to be noticed 

 here, because they are very common — two year old nur- 

 sery trees that have not heen projperly treated. 

 Fig. 106 represents a tree of this kind. A 

 few inches only of the top were taken off at 

 the commencement of the second year's 

 growth, and after that it was left to itself. 

 Branches, therefore, w^ere produced only at 

 the top, leaving a vacant space of two feet, 

 the very part that should have produced the 

 first set of main branches. The best disposi- 

 tion to make of such a tree would be to con- 

 duct it in the form of a dwarf standard, which 

 it really is at present ; but it happens that in 

 some cases it is desired to convert them intq 

 pyramids, and therefore it is essential that the 

 proper means be pointed out. Two year okl 

 trees, like yearlings, differ materially in the 

 character of the buds on the low^er part of the tack far enough 



, r\ l^ ', -J- the first season ; 



stem. Un some, these are quite prominent, so ^j^^ second prun- 

 much so as to. appear to have made some ad- i"s. to produce 



^ , ., . -, .branches below, is 



vance towards development, while m others indicated by the 

 they are quite flat and dormant. It is obvious ^"^^"^ ^^"^• 

 that trees in the first condition will not require that severe 

 retrenchment on the head to produce branches below, as 

 the last. In this case it will generally be sufficient, and 

 especially if the space between the stock and first branches 

 does not exceed two feet, to cut back the leader to three 



Fig. 106. 

 A two year old 

 pear tree, not cut 



