THE MINIATUEE FETJIT GARDEN 



THE MATUEE PYEAMID 



The following figure (fig. 3) is a pyramidal tree 

 in its second and third year, and such as it ouglit to 

 be in July before its leading side sboots' and leading 

 upright shoot are shortened. This, as I have said, is 

 best done towards the second or third week in September. 



The shortening must be made at the marks ; all the 



side shoots must be shortened in this manner, as well 

 as the leading shoot ; no farther pruning will be required 

 until the following summer. The spurs a, a, a, are the 

 bases of the shoots that have been pinched in June ; these 

 will, the following season, form fruit-bearing spurs. 

 The best instrument for summer and autumnal pruning 

 is a pair of hooked pruning scissors or 'secateurs/ 

 which are now sold of all sorts and sizes. 



As the summer pinching of pyramidal pears is the 

 most iuteresting feature in their culture, and perhaps 

 the most agreeable of all horticultural occupations, 

 I must endeavour to give plain instructions to carry 

 it out. 



The first season after the planting, by the 

 middle of June, the side buds and branches have put 

 forth young shoots : each will give from one to three 

 or four. Select that which is most horizontal in its 

 growth (it should be on the lower part of the branch, 

 as the tree will then be more inclined to spread) for a 

 leader to that branch, and pinch off all the others to 



