100 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



siderably more horizontal than that to which the tree 

 is naturally disposed; and this, the simplest operation, 

 only requiring a little minuteness of attention, will 

 promote the spreading of a tree far more effectually 

 than the clumsy artifice of appending weights, or 

 introducing hoops, and doing mischief by so many 

 knots and strings. 



The removal of larger branches from the middle, 

 or of smaller twigs that point inwards, may be effected 

 any time in winter when the weather is soft; and in 

 general, as trees have plenty of branches going in all 

 directions, the judicious thinning of these will be suf- 

 ficient to give any form you please it being necessary 

 to regard the position of buds only in those cases 

 where there is a great disposition to vertical growth 

 with few lateral shoots. When these are in ordinary 

 abundance, they have only to be thinned out, so as 

 to keep the heart open, and to supply an even balance 

 of the branches around the stem. 



The worst error with regard to young standard 

 trees is that of allowing the stem to take a slanting 

 direction from the prevalence of high winds. The 

 help of a stake, at first necessary in planting, should 

 be continued till the trees be well established; but 

 if, from oversight, the bad position of the stem has 

 become incorrigible, the only remedy is, by saw and 

 knife, to remove half the branches, and restore the 

 equilibrium, by giving the head a contrary inclination. 

 If this is not done in due time the tree cannot stand, as 

 the weight increases at the longer arm of the lever 

 and overcomes the resistance of the roots. Hence it 

 is no uncommon thing to see a fine fruit tree lying flat 

 on its side, and after all bearing as well as others ; but 



