Chap. XXIII.] 



TRAINING. 



397 



Pyramidal Pear-tree, 

 pruning. 



Second 



one year after being permanently planted, or two years from the 

 graft. B shows the union of stock and scion ; and the 

 terminal bud, A, just below where the shoot is cut 

 should be placed on the side opposite to that on which 

 the scion was inserted, as shown in the figure, so that 

 the stem of the tree may rest perpendicularly on its 

 base. It is by attending to such little points as this 

 that the French get that perfectly equal distribution of 

 sap which is so essential to the satisfactory manage- 

 ment and prolonged fertility of trained fruit-trees. 

 The summer following the first pruning, the young 



trees push with great vigour, 

 and their shoots should be 

 thinned when a few inches 

 long, removing every shoot 

 from the base of the stem to 

 a height of about one foot, and 

 thinning out those above this 

 point to six, seven, or eight 

 shoots ; reserving of course the 

 best-placed shoots, and taking 

 care to have them arranged 

 as far as possible at regular 

 intervals. Should they in the 

 course of the year assume an 

 irregular development, pinch- 

 ing with the finger and thumb 

 must be resorted to. For 

 instance, in the cut opposite, 

 the shoots, A A, have pushed too much ; and one of them 

 rivals the leading shoot, B ; they therefore are pinched, 

 merely taking off an inch or so. The second pruning 

 has for its object the production of a new set of lateral 

 branches, and the further development of those already 

 obtained. It is evident that to secure a beautiful tree, 

 the branches must spring forth regularly from the 

 main stem, which they are not likely to do if the tree 

 is left to itself. The illustration of "leading shoot 

 of Pear-tree " shows the way in which the careful cultivator 



Leading shoot 

 of Pear-iree^ 

 showing inci- 

 sions A, A, A, 

 ■made ahovethe 

 buds required 

 to break 

 strongly. 



