110 THE MINIATUEE FEUIT GABDEN 



or soils with a chalky subsoil. Although the trees grow 

 most vigorously the first two or three seasons, yet, after 

 that period, and especially if root-pruned, they form 

 dwarf prolific bushes, so as easily to be covered with a 

 net, or, what is better, with muslin or tifiany, which 

 will protect the blossoms from frost in spring, and the 

 fruit more efiectually from birds and wasps in summer • 

 thus giving us what is certainly most rare, cherries 

 fully ripe, and prolonging their season till September. 

 These dwarf bushes may be planted from five to six 

 feet apart, and their branches pruned so that seven, or 

 nine, or more, come out from the centre of the plant, 

 like a well-managed gooseberry bush. These branches 

 wUl, in May or June, put forth, as in the horizontal 

 shoots of pyramidal pear, several shoots at their ex- 

 tremities, all of which must be pinched off to five leaves, 

 leaving the leading shoots untouched to the middle or 

 end of September, when they must be shortened, and 

 the pruning for the year is finished. 



The Morello and Duke cherries — the most eligible 

 for this bush culture — may have their leading shoots 

 shortened to eight leaves. If, however, the space be 

 confined in which they are planted^ this length may 

 be reduced, for by biennial root-pruning, the trees may 

 be kept exceedingly dwarf. The aim is to form the 

 tree into a round bush, not too much crowded with 

 shoots. Towards the end of September,' or, in fact, as 



' This early autumnal root-pruning will be found very advan- 

 tageous, the flow of sap is checked, so that the shoots are well 



