in] PYRAMIDAL TREES 59 



of a pyramidal tree should be pinched after mak- 

 ing a growth of 6 ins., so as to furnish the tree 

 e\'enly with young shoots. This may be repeated 

 two or three times, but not oftener, as the centre 

 shoot should be allowed to grow on unchecked 

 until the end of the season. 



This operation may be practised on peaches, 

 nectarines, cherries, plums, apples, and pears, 

 where\'er the trees are found to have made tlie 

 extent of growth referred to. 



It is also a good practice to pinch figs ; and 

 as some A^arieties make a much stronger growth 

 than others, it is best to vary the operation 

 accordingly. The moderate growers should be 

 pinched at 5 or 6 ins., and the stronger growers 

 at 7 or 8 ins. The pinching of figs tends to 

 harden the wood, and also induces the shoots 

 to produce an abundance of fruit, which tliey 

 probably would not do if allowed to grow at 

 random. 



Apricots may be pinched at every fourth or 

 fifth inch of growth. 



The growth of a pyramidal tree will always 

 be found to commence at the top, and of course 

 it must follow that the pinching must begin at 

 the top of the tree, and not the bottom. It 

 has recently been stated that the pinching of a 

 pyramidal tree should always commence at the 



