206 PRUNING. 



be necessary, except to shorten the leading shoots, because 

 as soon as a superfluous or misplaced shoot appears, it is 

 rubbed off, and when one becomes too vigorous, it is 

 pinched and checked ; the great advantage of pinching is, 

 that 1st., It economizes the sap of the tree. That which 

 would be expended on superfluous shoots is turned to the 

 benefit of the parts reserved, and thus the growth is greatly 

 promoted. 



2d. All wounds necessarily inflicted, where knife prun- 

 ing is depended on, are completely avoided. These facts 

 should be remembered. Standard apples and pears are 

 not generally pruned with a view to hastening their bear- 

 ing, but are allowed to arrive at that state in their natu- 

 ral way. In the case of tardy bearing sorts, however, it 

 may be desirable to apply artificial means, and these will 

 be pointed out in treating of dwarfs and -pyramids 

 hereafter. 



Dwarf Standards. These are similar to standards, 

 except that the trunks are low, not over two or three feet 

 in height, and the head is retained in a smaller space. 

 Their management is always much easier when the stocks 

 are such as to dwarf or restrain the growth. Thus, 

 apples on the paradise or Doucain, and pears on the 

 quince. The main branches or frame-work of the head, 

 are produced by cutting back the three or four branches 

 that form the head of the tree as it comes from the 

 nursery, in the same manner as recommended for stand- 

 ards. 



The first season, all superfluous productions are nibbed 

 off, a-xd a balance maintained among the shoots by pinch- 

 ing. 



The second year, in the winter or spring, the shoots of 

 last peason are shortened, say one half, as a general thing. 

 This induces the development of the buds on their whole 

 The cut is made at a good, plump bud, capable 



