54 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



practical ways can be easily reduced to eight as shown in the fol- 

 lowing : 



A. Trained in tree-like form. 



a. Pyramid. 



b. Bush. 



B. Trained with several branches in one vertical plane. 



a. Espalier. 



b. Fan espalier. 



c. Palmette-Verrier. 



C. Trained to single stems — Cordons. 



a. Upright. 



b. Inclined. 



c. Horizontal. 



The pyramid differs from the bush form chiefly in the fact that 

 in the former a straight central stem is maintained from which 

 secondary branches radiate, while in the bush form the center is 

 cut out and several radiating side branches constitute the frame- 

 work of the tree. The bush form is better adapted to apples, 

 while the pyramid can be better applied to pears. 



The espaliers of different forms are extremely popular where 

 training is practiced and are considered to be amongst the most 

 valuable forms for growing fancy fruits. They require of course 

 a great deal of care and attention in order to produce the neces- 

 sary forms and to keep them in health and vigor. 



Cordons consist of a single stem which may be placed in 

 almost any position ; the three common forms being vertical, 

 oblique, and horizontal cordons. These are simple and easy to 

 grow either against a trellis or against a wall and they produce 

 very excellent results when properly cared for, especially with 

 pears and apples. 



The pruning of dwarf fruit trees, especially those trained in 

 particular forms, is a someAvhat complicated subject. Elaborate 

 directions can be found in any of the European fruit books, but 

 nothing has been written in detail on this subject in America. 

 One or two general principles may be stated here, and these must 

 suffice for the present. 



The general management of the tree can be best understood 

 by referring to one of the simplest forms, say the vertical cordon. 



