10 THE MINIATURE FRXJIT GARDEN. 



leader of these ready-formed pyramids need not be 

 shortened in summer, as directed for younger trees ; 

 it may be suffered to grow till the horizontal leaders 

 are shortened in August, and then left six or eight 

 inches in length ; but if the trees are to be kept to 

 six or seven feet in height under root-pruning, this 

 leading shoot may be shortened to two inches, or even 

 cut close down to its base. For tall pyramids of ten, 

 twelve, or fifteen feet, it may be left from eight to ten 

 inches in length till the required height be attained ; 

 it may then be cut to within two inches of its base 

 every season. 



I ought here to remark that pear trees difier in 

 their habits to an extraordinary degree : some make 

 slioots most robust and vigrirous ; others, under pre- 

 cisely the same treatment, are vef^ delicate and slen- 

 der. In the final shortening in August'this must be 

 attended to ; those that are very vigorous must not 

 liave their shoots pruned s(j closely as those that are 

 less so ; indeed, almost every variety will require some 

 little modification in pruning, of which experience is 

 by far the best teaclier. It will, I think, suffice, if I 

 give the following directions for shortening the lead- 

 ers of the side shoots, and the pei-pendieular lead- 

 ers : — All those that are very robust, sueh as Beurre 

 d'Amanlis, Viear uf AVinkticld, Eeurre Piel, iVc, 

 shorten to ei^lit or ten inches, aeeoriliiiLr to the viiror 

 iif the individual tree ; those of medium vijrt>r, such 

 lis Li)\iisc iMiiiiie of .lerscy, ]\Iarie l.ouiso, and Bcurro 

 (rAreinliurfx, to six inches; tlioso that are delii-ate 

 and slender in llieir growtli, like AViutcr N'elis, to 

 four inches; liut I must repeat that regard must bo 



