64 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



in the case of standards, six branches will be I branches. When this is done, each branch ought 



to be exactly 1 foot from those 

 next to it; if any are wider apart 

 than that distance, let them be 

 brought to it. Whether a hoop 

 or this contrivance be employed, 

 the shoots, after being secured, 

 should be shortened to a few 

 inches above the hoop or place 

 where they are 1 foot apart, in 

 order that each of the six 

 branches may be there sub- 

 divided into two, making twelve 

 in all. In shortening, where the 

 leading branch is not intended 

 to be subdivided, observe to cut 

 above a bud pointing away from 

 the centre, or in the direction 

 that the shoot forming a pro- 

 longation of the branch is desired 

 to take. From the inclination 

 of the branches, and favoured by 

 the open space which they form, 

 strong shoots from the upper 

 sides of the inclined branches 



Fig. 859. -A well-developed six-year-old pyramid Apple, after pruning. will be apt to Start in the middle 



originated. These should be 

 allowed to grow freely during 

 the summer, so as to be tole^ 

 ably straight, and if kept equi- 

 distant so much the better. 



It would be advisable to regu- 

 late these six shoots in winter 

 by training them to a hoop, 

 which ought to be 6 feet in cir- 

 cumference, and the branches, 

 secured at equal distances, would 

 then be just 1 foot apart. In 

 many cases materials for hoops 

 might not be at hand, and the 

 purchase of them might be 

 found too expensive. If so, 

 three straight or nearly straight 

 sticks, about 2 feet long, may 

 be substituted. Three such 

 lengths can be much more easily 

 procured than a hoop 6 feet 

 round. At J inch from each 

 end of the 2-feet sticks cut a 

 notch, so that a piece of bass, 

 tied round, may not slip. Place 

 the stick across the centre of the 

 tree, and secure the two opposite 

 shoots by the ties, near the end 

 of the stick. Stretch the sticks in a similar 

 manner between the other two pairs of opposite 



Fig. 660. -A well-developed six-year-old bush Apple, after pruning. 



of the tree, where their presence would prove 

 injurious. The means already pointed out for 



