173 



Pyramidal Training. 



neatly cut round above the upper eye j the branch is cut off at about 

 four or five inches above that point, and then the bark is taken 

 clean off. When the young leading shoot is long enough, it is 

 fastened to the bare portion of stem, as shown at Fig. 47. The 

 portion A is cut off at B at the next winter pruning. This process 

 may be prolonged as long as necessary or convenient. In pruning 

 in the tree considerable judgment is required, so as to get the base 

 of the specimen well furnished, and secure fertility in the fruiting 

 branches. Fig. 50 shows how this is performed, and several of the 



FIG. 48. 



FIG. 49 



following figures well explain the principle. It is to cut them of 

 the greatest length at the base of the tree, and gradually shorten 

 them as we reach the top. The nearer they spring to the soil, the 

 longer they must be left, or to be more precise, only a third must 

 be cut from the points of the lowest branches ; half the length 

 may be taken from those situated between summit and base ; and 

 lastly, three parts may be cut from the most elevated parts. In 

 cutting-in the lateral branches, the directly' oblique direction which 

 it is desirable they should take must be borne in mind in the 

 pruning, and the terminal bud of each left as far as possible, as 



