PYRAMIDAX APPLES ON THE CRAB STOCK 101 



become stunted and unhealthy. In such soils, and also 

 in those of a very tenacious nature, pyramids on the 

 crab stock may be planted with great advantage. They 

 are also well adapted for large gardens where large 

 quantities are required, as the trees may be made to 

 form handsome pyramids, from 'twelve to fifteen feet in 

 height. 



Carefully watch the trees, for there is one thing 

 most essential to their full success as pyramids — ^they 

 must either be lifted or taken up biennially early in 

 November, and replanted in the manner recommended 

 for bush pear trees, or root-pruned biennially, ope- 

 rating upon the trees alternately. Or the following 

 system may be adopted : neither remove nor root-prune 

 any tree that continues to grow with moderation, does 

 not canker, and bears well ; but any tree that makes 

 shoots from eighteen inches to three feet in length, 

 remove once in two, three, or four years till its vigorous 

 habit is reduced. 



As these crab stock trees grow freely, summer 

 pinching or shortening the young shoots with a pen- 

 knife, as recommended in page 81, must be attended to; 

 and then, in the most unfavourable apple-tree soils, 

 healthy and most prolific pyramids may be formed. 

 Any of the varieties recommended in pages 81 and 82 

 will succeed well as pyramids on the crab stock. 



If managed as I have directed, fine trees may be 

 formed not only of the robust-growing kinds, but even 

 of the old Nonpareil, Golden Pippin, Golden Reinette, 



