Pyramidal Training. 



169 



height. Pyramid trees may be purchased in all stages ; but as trees 

 ready-formed are costly, and as many would prefer conducting their 

 own trees, and those who plant on a large scale will find it econo- 

 mical to begin with trees a year from the graft, we will begin at 

 the beginning with a "maiden tree," letting it grow one year in 

 the ground before pruning it. 



Fig. 43 represents the first pruning of this young tree, and its ap- 

 pearance one year after being permanently planted, or two years 

 "from the graft." B shows the union of stock and scion ; and the 

 terminal bud A just below where the shoot 

 is cut should be placed on the side opposite 

 to that on which the scion was inserted, as 

 shown in the figure, so that the erect stem 

 of the tree may rest perpendicularly on its 

 base. It is by attending to such little 

 points as this that they get that perfectly 

 equal distribution of sap which is so essen- 

 tial to the satisfactory management and 

 prolonged fertility of trained fruit trees. 

 The summer following the first pruning 

 the young trees push with great vigour, 

 and their shoots should be thinned when 

 a few inches long, removing every shoot 

 from the base of the stem to a height of 

 about one foot, and thinning out those 

 above this point to six, seven, or eight 

 shoots ; reserving, of course, the best placed 

 shoots, and taking care to have them arranged as far as possible 

 at regular intervals. Should they in the course of the year 

 assume an irregular development, pinching with the finger and 

 thumb must be resorted to. This is shown by Fig, 44 on the next 

 page. The shoots, A A, have pushed too much ; and one of 

 them rivals the leading shoot B. Therefore they must be pinched, 

 merely taking an inch or so off. In the spring of the follow- 

 ing year the young trees should offer somewhat the aspect of 



Fig. 43.— Pyramid Pear : 

 First Pruning. 



