THE QUESTION OF SHAPE 51 
all the operations of the orchard from the ground, or at 
the most from a long pair of steps. And if you don’t 
use long ladders, you can get women and girls to pick the 
fruit, and their labour is cheaper than that of an able- 
bodied man. The advocate of the higher-headed tree is 
influenced chiefly by the greater ease with which he can 
get his implements underneath the trees when cultivating 
his orchard. On the other hand, implements are now 
made which will project to one side underneath a low- 
headed tree whilst the horse walks quite clear of the 
branches. Besides this, when the trees begin to bear, 
even though headed high, the weight of the crop bends 
them down, so that it is difficult for a horse to move 
underneath them without breaking them with its head. 
On the whole, it seems best to keep the trees low, and 
never let the hcrse go underneath the branches. 
Assuming, then, that you decide to keep your trees 
low, there are two shapes you may aim to produce: 
(1) The pyramid, growing highest in the centre ; and (2) the 
vase, growing hollow in the centre. In British Columbia 
the majority of orchardists prefer the former, the pyra- 
midal shape. The vase shape is admirable in a climate 
which does not get a superabundance of sunshine, as, for 
instance, in England. But in British Columbia the sun 
shines frequently so hot and with such a burning force 
that, unless the middle of the tree is protected to some 
extent with leafage, it is apt to suffer from sunscald, 
fruit as well as bark. 
Frrst YeEar’s Prouninc.—One year after planting 
comes the pruning, which of all the prunings that the 
tree undergoes is probably the most important for deter- 
