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branches upwards and outwards Amongst the advantages it offers 
it is simple to understand and master; it is applicable to all kinds 
of fruit-trees; it is suitable to all localities where fruit-trees can be 
grown out in the open without artificial shelter; it forms a vigorous 
stocky tree, well balanced, easier to prune, spray, and pick; it effi- 
ciently shelters the stem against sun-seald; it resists the onslaught 
of heavy gusts of wind better than the other forms of training; it 
requires less space than the pyramid form; it offers greater facility 
of approach to the stems by the horses when cultivatiing. 
The above paragraph sets forth the advantages of this system 
in preference to others. The low standard system of training, how- 
ever, best suited for the climatic couditions which obtain in coun- 
tries like Australia and California, where hot summers prevail, has 
been materially modified from its prototype, the “vase” or “goblet” 
form, found in the gardens of Europe. 
EvuRoPEAN VASE OR GOBLET. 
There the tree is headed back to two or three feet; three or 
four branches disposed round the stem are drawn outwards by 
means of strings fastened to pegs, which will form the main limbs 
of the tree. On these limbs, which are cut back the next winter to 
a lower bud which will continue the main branch, and either to the 
left or the right of it, a side shoot is allowed to grow and all the 
other shoots are pinched back; these two shoots are bound to a 
light hoop to keep them in place, and constitute the main branches 
of the young tree. The next winter again this process is repeated, 
with this difference, that the side shoot is allowed to grown on the 
opposite side of the previous year’s side shoot. These form second- 
ary branches, and are fastened to larger hoops; all shoots which 
start to grow either inward towards the centre or outward are 
rubbed off, so that after a year or two the tree presents as nearly 
as possible the shape of a vase or goblet, with a hollow centre and 
an even exterior outline with a thin wall of foliage. In our cool 
climate of the Blackwood I have come across trees so trained bear- 
ing bunches of apples and pears all along the leaders forming the 
framework of the tree. 
Mopiriep VASE Form or Low StTanparp. 
It is apparent from the outset that such a symmetrical and 
open system of training, if adopted under a climate such as ours, 
would result in much damage being done by the sorehing sun to 
both the tree itself and to its crop of fruit. I have purposely re- 
ferred to it here so as to spare to the beginner in fruit growing the 
trouble as well as the disappointment of taking his pattern in 
training his young trees from the classic sources favoured in 
Europe. The Californian modified vase, with a low standard, has 
now proved itself to be the best suited to Australian conditions, 
