1036 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



Apples, Plums, and Cherries may also be 

 trained in this way. The pyramid con- 

 sists of a vertical stem furnished from 

 base to apex with side branches which 

 gradually become shorter as they near the 

 apex. The branches are more or less 

 ascending as a rule, but may also be 

 trained in a drooping position. The 

 pyramid is one of the best forms, as it 

 admits air and light freely among the 

 branches and foliage, and is usually very 

 productive. To keep the trees in shape the 

 branches require to be regularly stopped 

 and pruned every year. Fig. 142 shows 

 what a, well-trained pyramid tree shovdd 

 be like. 



2. The Vase. — All trees except the 

 Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot may be 



The main branches spring from the ' col- 

 lar,' and dispose themselves at all angles 

 between the horizontal and vertical 



FIG. Ii3.— VASE TRAINING. 



grown in this shape, but it is particularly 

 suitable for Apples grafted on the Para- 

 dise stock. The vase has a short stem 

 from the top of which arise half a dozen 

 or more strong shoots of which the young 

 side branches are generally pruned back 

 every year so as to produce the fruit on 

 spurs. This method of training however 

 is now very rarely practised, as there is 

 little to be said in favour of leaving the 

 centre of the tree or bush vacant when 

 it might be occupied with fruit-bearing 

 branches instead. The diagram (fig. 143) 

 wiU give an idea of what a bush trained 

 in this way would look like. 



3. The Bush. — This resembles the 

 Pyramid btit has no main central shoot. 



FIG. 144. — BUSH TREE. 



positions, and require but little training 

 beyond keeping the shoots from over- 

 crowding and crossing each other. Apples 

 and Pears, Gooseberries and Currants are 

 most suitable for growing in bush form. 

 Some growers have succeeded with 

 Peaches and Nectarines grown in this 

 form, but only the earliest varieties 

 should be planted, and very warm shel- 

 tered positions must always be chosen for 

 them. 



There are many advantages in growing 

 dwarf bush Apple trees. Almost every ope- 

 ration cormected with pruning, thinning, 

 gathering the fruit, spraying with insecti- 

 cides, combating insect attacks &c. can 

 be easily carried out much more quickly 

 and with far less damage to the trees than 

 if the latter are on tall stems. Low bush 

 trees also have the advantage of being 

 less likely to catch violent winds, which 

 occasionally do a good deal of injury to 

 tall trees. The fruit also is much more 

 easily picked and is therefore less likely 

 to be bruised, as it will not require to be 

 handled or shaken about so much as 

 when gathered from standards. The 

 drawing (fig. 144) represents a bush tree 

 that stands about 6 ft. high, and shows in 

 a general way how the branches are to be 

 trained so as not to interfere with each 

 other. 



4. Standards and Half Standards. — 



