VI. TRAINING AND PRUNING. 



pains-taking, at the fast, produces ease and leisure in 

 the sequel. % 



260. STANDARD TREES. After what I have said, 

 I do most anxiously hope, that, if any gentleman ever 

 should make a garden after the plan that I am recom- 

 mending, he never will suffer it to be disfigured by the 

 folly of a standard-tree, which, the more vigorous its 

 growth, the more mischievous that growth to the garden. 

 But, an orchard is another thing j and especially if that 

 orchard be to be a pasture as well as an orchard. In 

 this case, it is necessary to keep the branches of the trees 

 out of the reach of cattle j and they must have a clear 

 trunk to a considerable height. The usual way of going 

 to work is this : to purchase trees with a clear trunk of 

 the length which is desired : to plant the trees at suitable 

 distances, and to shorten the shoots of their heads at the 

 time of planting. A dreadful amputation of roots must 

 take place. It is impossible that there should be a due 

 supply of sap for the first summer at least j the bark 

 becomes clung to the wood. The shoots that come out 

 the first summer are poor feeble twigs ; the trees, if un- 

 propped, are blown nearly out of the ground before the 

 summer is overj therefore, a propping takes place j 

 sometimes with one stake, hay-bands and cord ; some- 

 times with two : there must be three, to keep the tree 

 upright, so that here is a tripod with a stump coming up 

 in the middle. The tree gets something in the head, 

 and, at least, a parcel of leaves, the wind works the 

 trunk about in spite of the bandages, and, nine times out 

 of ten, a breaking of the bark and the foundation of a 

 canker takes place. In short, the tree must be sup- 



