FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDENS NEAR PARIS. 



203 



of fruit, for many years, or until the tree approaches the state of 

 old age. 



The plan which M. Cappe pursues succeeds admirably in the 

 climate of Paris. The fruit on the pyramid Pear-trees under 

 his management is stated on competent authority to have been 

 last year exceedingly abundant, large, and fine. This season the 

 trees are healthy and vigorous, and well furnished with blossom- 

 buds. It may be said that the generally dry, clear air of Paris 

 is very different from the cloudy and moist climate of many 

 parts of Britain ; the one being favourable for the formation of 

 fruit-buds, whilst the other favours the growth of wood and 

 leaves ; and therefore, circumstances being different, the same 

 practice may not be equally proper for both. There are, more- 

 over, instances of circumstances differing so widely as to require 

 opposite methods of culture. But this does not hold good as 

 regards summer pinching. In England the drawback is a dull 

 atmosphere ; the shoots and foliage want more air and light. 

 Summer pinching affords this, inasmuch as it prevents the 

 crowding and shading of wood and leaves necessary to be re- 

 tained, by that which is superfluous ; and therefore it must be 

 considered of still greater utility in dull climates than in bright, 

 more necessary in England than in France. It is generally 

 admitted that " where nature does most, man does least ;" but 

 with regard to the management of fruit-trees an exception 

 must rest till summer pruning receives as much attention in 

 England as it does in the Jardin des Plantes, and elsewhere in 

 France. 



Supposing the branches of a tree are properly thinned and 

 regulated at the winter pruning, and that so far as they extend, 

 their number is quite sufficient for the space they occupy ; pre- 

 suming, also, that the tree is in good health, a number of laterals 

 are sure to spring. They are, of course, superfluous ; and every 

 one of them should be pinched as already mentioned. If the last 

 year's shoot has been shortened at the winter pruning, then, 

 besides the terminal one on the part left, one, two, or three next 

 to it are almost sure to push ; and these M. Cappe commences 

 to check by pinching when about three inches in length ; but 

 those nearer the base of the shoot he allows to grow till they 

 attain the length of*six or eight inches before he shortens them. 

 The terminal bud is of course allowed to go on for the pro- 

 longation of the branch. It frequently happens in France, and 

 the liability will be still greater in the climate of England, that 

 after a shoot is pinched back, the newly-formed buds on the part 

 left will push a secondary shoot in the same season. When this is 

 the case with those under the care of M. Cappe, he also pinches 

 these secondary shoots to an inch or an inch and a half from 



