378 



THE PEACTICE OP PEUNINGf. 



whicli may "be regarded as models of that form of the tree for which the 

 French are celebrated. Mr. Thompson describes them as being from 10 to 

 15 feet high, or more, having a regularly tapering outline from the base to 

 the top, where they terminate in a single shoot. The young plant is stopped 

 according to its strength, and so as to furnish side branches. These are not 

 in stages at uniform distances along the stem ; on the contrary, almost every 

 shoot which breaks out from the stem is allowed to grow ; but the laterals 

 produced on these are pinched in summer, and even such of the leading 



shoots as appear likely to he- 

 come too strong for the others 

 are stopped. M. Cappe, who 

 , manages them, pinches all the 

 young shoots, not required to 

 form hranehes, when in a very 

 young state ; when they have 

 scarcely pushed a finger's 

 length, they are shortened to 

 about one inch, or from that 

 to one and a half inch. The 

 portion left forms the basis of 

 one or more fruit-buds, bear- 

 ing fruit in the following 

 season, or a spur on which 

 blossom-buds are formed for 

 bearing in the second season. 

 The plan succeeds admirably 

 in the oUmate of Paris. The 

 fruit is abundant, large, and 

 fine. The trees are healthy 

 and vigorous, and well fur- 

 nished with blossom-buds. 



Supposing the branches of 

 a tree are properly thinned and 

 regulated at the winter prun- 

 ing, and that so far as they 

 extend, their number is quite 

 sufficient for the space they occupy ; presuming, also, that the tree is in 

 good health, a number of laterals are sure to spring. They are, of course, 

 superfluous ; and every one of them should be pinched as already mentioned. 

 If the last year's shoot has been shortened at the winter pruning, then, 

 besides the terminal one on the part left, one, two, or three next to it are 

 almost sure to push ; and these M. Cappe commences to check by pinching 

 when about three inches in length ; but those nearer the base of the shoot 

 he allows to grow till they attain the length of six or eight inches before he 

 shortens them. The terminal bud is of course allowed to go on for the 



Figr. LXXI. — Spur of the Pear-tree. 



