The Canadian Horticulturist. 



61 



PYRAMID PEAR TREES. 



HE Pyramid or cone form of training pear trees, where they stand alone 

 or in a small garden, is a very ornamental one and at the same time 

 calculated to secure a good crop. A strong pyramid, well pruned, 

 symmetrical and thriving, is certainly a hand- 

 some object. Like the dwarf or fan form the 

 pyramid requires more or less annual pruning. 

 One must of course begin with a young tree that has 

 branches to the ground. Do not expect too vigorous a 

 growth ; from five to seven main branches a year are all 

 that should be allowed. When laying out the branches 

 for the next year's growth, it is as well to prune close 

 to the bud which is to continue the growth, leaving a 

 small spur attached to tie the growing shoot to in order that 

 it may grow in the proper direction. Or it might do to cut 

 the branch three or four inches above the bud, removing all 

 buds on it, and tie the growing shoot to this spur, which may 

 afterward be taken off. It is a mistake to prune strong- 

 growing varieties. too much, and it is equal- 

 ly wrong to allow the lateral branches 

 to grow too long. Therefore it will be 

 best in pruning to use a judicious moder- 

 ation and keep the tree properly balanced. 

 A well-proportioned pyramid should have 

 a diameter about two-thirds of its height. 

 , v ?£Vfh If a tree of the proper age fails to bear, it 

 ^^v ; -J may, if well proportioned, be left unpruned 

 .• .v^ for two or three years. A circular incision 

 rWj? of the bark about one-half inch wide at 

 the base and kept open may be tried, or 

 even root-pruning resorted to, to bring it 

 into bearing. The illustrations give a 

 good general idea of a pyramid pear tree 

 after winter pruning, also one in fruit. — 

 Fig. ."»08. — Dwarf Pear Tree in Fruit. Farm and Home. 



Fie. 507— Pyramid. 



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One of the strangest things in this world is that the use of tobacco should 

 have become so general. It has never been rationally explained. 



