THE FKTJIT GARDEN. 195 



The next point to be considered is, 



The Age of the Trees. This will depend very much on cir- 

 cumstances. For pyramidal trees it is yet difficult, almost 

 impossible, to obtain in the nurseries specimens of more 

 than one year's growth that are suitable. The yearlings 

 are never sufficiently cut back, nor the branches of the 

 second and third year so managed as to have the requisite 

 proportion of length and vigor to fit them for being mould- 

 ed, with any ordinary treatment, into a perfectly pyramidal 

 form. If suitable trees cannot be found of two or three 

 years from the bud or graft, vigorous yearlings, worked 

 at the ground, should be chosen, as they are in a condition 

 to take easily any required form ; and though fruit may 

 not be so soon obtained from them, yet they will in the 

 end be much more satisfactory ; for, unless a right begin- 

 ning be made in the training of a tree in any form more 

 or less artificial, no art can afterwards completely correct 

 the errors. If we take a tvro or three year old tree, man- 

 aged in the nursery, as usual, with a naked trunk two to 

 two and a half feet from the ground, and a branching 

 head, or what is nearly as bad, a few weak side branches 

 below, overrun with strong ones above, the most severe 

 process will be necessary, in order to produce lateral 

 branches in the proper place ; and thus, as much time 

 will be lost as would bring forward a yearling, and the 

 tree will not be so perfectly formed, so healthy, nor in any 

 respect so satisfactory. The general impatience that exists 

 in regard to the growth and bearing of trees is the great 

 cause of this defective character when taken from the nur- 

 sery. The nurseryman is averse to cutting back his trees, 

 as they lose a year in height, and planters or purchasers 

 are not generally discriminating enough to be willing to 

 pay him a proportionate price. He finds tall trees more 

 attractive. When planters do get these trees, they cannot 

 be persuaded to cut them down ; they wish to obtain 



