402 



THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OF PAEIS. [Chap. XXIII. 



the longer are the portions cnt off. The succeeding prunings 

 differ nothing in principle from the others, future deyelopment 

 taking place principally in the middle and higher parts of the 

 tree. Care should he taken to guide in the desired direction by 

 means of twine, and sometimes slender stakes, any branches that 

 may haye deviated from it. Thus the pruning is carried on till 



Pyrajtiidal Pear-tree. Fifth J>runins. 



the tree becomes a large and perfect pyramid, the laterals being 

 well pinched in, and in every case a free terminal shoot being 

 allowed to proceed from each, so that the tree may be kept equally 

 balanced and the sap freely conducted through each branch. 

 They may of course be cut back well every year ; always, however, 

 at a bud likely to furnish a good shoot for the following season. 

 It is very questionable if the mathematically-designed pyramid 



