BADLY-TRAINED AND AGED TREES. 



211 



Those at the base should be cut at two feet from 

 their spring, and the upper one at six inches. If the 

 tree is an apple or a pear of large size with thick hard 

 bark, it will be better, instead of reckoning upon the 

 growth of new terminal shoots for the stem and 

 branches, to crown graft each of the extremities, which 

 will develop more vigorously than mere shoots from 

 old trees. 



At the end of the year the rejuvenated pyramid will 

 resemble fig. 178. During the first years which follow, 

 in order to favour the growth of the lower branches, it 

 will be necessary to cut short those at the top, and to 

 pinch, during summer, their terminal shoots. 



Espaliers, — Espaliers in the palmetto form are cut at 

 one-half the length of their stem, and the side branches 

 cut back, those at the top to six inches, those at the 

 base one-half their length, and the intermediate ones 

 so as not to pass their proper line of growth. A crown 

 graft is also placed at the top of the stem and at the 

 extremities of each side of the branches. Lastly, the 

 lower branches are favoured in their growth by cutting 

 short the upper ones and pinching their shoots. 



To further insure success it will be well to take off 

 the old outside bark of the entire tree with a plane, and 

 then cover the whole with a coat of lime-wash, applied 

 hot. This will stimulate the vital energies of the tree, 

 and facilitate the growth of new shoots. 



It will also be an advantage at the close of the third 

 year to make a circular trench three feet from the foot 

 of the tree, three feet wide, and thirty inches deep, and 

 fill it with fresh earth enriched with manure. If some 



