ON FRUIT CULTURE, 



979 



Fig. 637. — Apple Lane's Prince Albert. 



The pyramid-formed tree can scarcely be termed a profitable 

 one by its greatest admirers, for though such trees bear a fair 

 amount of fruit, yet the pruning and restriction requisite to keep 



them in correct form 

 prevent a heavy crop. 

 However, in some 

 gardens the pyramid is 

 planted and trained as 

 much for ornament as 

 for its fruit, and in 

 training the cultivator 

 should aim at a straight, 

 upright, central stem, on 

 which the branches 

 taper upwards from a 

 broad base to a fine 

 point, the whole tree 

 being rounded and of 

 similar dimensions on 

 each side. Any con- 

 gestion of wood is best 

 removed in summer 

 or autumn, as one can 

 then see where the growth is too thick. In fact, with bush, 

 pyramid, or any other trained Apple-trees, most of the pruning 

 may with advantage be 

 done at the end of July 

 or early in August, cutting 

 away all useless shoots to 

 within about three or four 

 eyes of their base, and, 

 in the case of leading or 

 other shoots required to 

 fill up blank spaces or 

 form the tree, permitting 

 them to go on unchecked. 

 In the autumn — say in 

 October— the spurs left at 

 the summer pruning may 

 with advantage be cut back 

 to two eyes ; or, if they 

 are very crowded, a few 

 could be cut out entirely, 



giving more light and ^3^- — Apple Peasgood's Nonsuch. 



space to those remaining. 



In gardens bush- or pyramid-trees are usually planted round 

 the margins of the vegetable quarters and near the gravel walks. 

 The distance between the trees may range from 8ft. to 15ft., and 



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