64 THE BOOK OF TOPIARY 
The strongest or main stem of the tree should be made 
use of to form the straight side of the letter. Then 
utilise the two remaining stems in forming the two 
halves of the B. The one that is growing in the most 
suitable position for the purpose can be bent round to 
form the top half; while the other stem is made to do 
the same in the case of the bottom part. In very much 
the same way the letters C, D, E and F can be trained, 
or even any letter of the alphabet. There is not a 
single letter from A to Z that it is not possible to 
train into shape ; some are perhaps more difficult than 
others to do, but they can all be done, and well done, 
if they are carefully handled. The principal thing to 
remember is the selecting of trees that are most suitable 
for the purpose. Always aim at finding trees with the 
requisite number of shoots that will be required to form 
the different parts of the letter it is intended to make. 
If it is the intention of the Topiarist to form one or more 
letters of the alphabet, trees for the purpose should if 
possible be selected some years before being wanted, 
and should be prepared for the work intended. ‘Trees 
that are so prepared beforehand will immediately they 
are planted in the garden be in a fit condition to shape 
into letters at once. If the trees are treated in this way, 
it will in a marked degree do away with the necessity of 
keeping the letters for several years in the garden in the 
ugly first stages of formation. There must, of course, 
be always a time when any tree that is being trained 
looks unsightly to the person who is new to the art of 
Topiary work. In the training of letters especially, it 
will be found much safer, and certainly a great deal 
easier, if iron frameworks are used. ‘This certainly 
simplifies the work to a great extent. By using a light 
framework, a more equally proportioned letter can be 
made than will be the case if the more rough and ready 
method of using wooden supports be practised. Of 
