76 THE MINIATUKE FEUIT GARDEN 



round half its jcircii,inference. If this be done in spring 

 or summer, the following season a shoot will generally 

 make its appearance ; sometimes even the first season, 

 if the stem or branch be notched early in spring. This 

 method of producing shoots from dormant buds may 

 be applied with advantage to all kinds of fruit trees, 

 except the peach and nectarine, which are not often' 

 inclined to break from a dormant bud. 



Varieties of apples, inclined to be compact and close 

 in their growth, form very handsome pyramids ; but 

 they are apt to be unfruitful, as air enough is not ad- 

 mitted to the interior of the tree. This may be easily 

 amended by bringing the lateral shoots down to a hori- 

 zontal position for a year or two, and fastening the end of 

 each shoot to a stake ; an open pyramidal shape will thus 

 be attained, which the tree will keep. Other varieties 

 put forth their laterals horizontally, and some are even 

 pendulous. The leading perpendicular shoot of varieties 

 of this description should be supported by a stake, till 

 the tree is of mature age. Iron rods, about the size of 

 small curtain-rods, are the most eligible ; these, if 

 painted with coal-tar and lime, sifted and mixed with 

 it to the consistence of very thick paint, put on boiling 

 hot, are permanent. 



Apple trees in confined gardens near large towns 

 are often infested with ' American blight,' aphis lani- 

 gera ; this makes its appearance on the trees generally 

 towards the middle of summer, like patches of cotton- 

 wool. There are many remedies given for this pest ; 



