THE PALMETTE VERRIER. 



377 



sake of symmetry, but also to insure perfect health and 

 fertility ; for if one part be allowed to grow grossly at the 

 expense of another, an awkward state of things will soon 

 take place. Sometimes, when the vegetation is very 

 vigorous, time is gained in the making of this form by 

 pinching the central growth at eight inches or so above 

 the highest pair of opposite branches. It then breaks 

 again, and care is taken to secure two side shoots and one 

 erect one. Thus, with care, and in good soil, two stages of 

 branches may be secured in the same year, but this must 

 not be attempted till the proper formation of the two lower 



Fia. 176. 



Palmette Verrier, with weakly outer branch completed by grafting. 



branches is secured. The dotted lines in Fig. 175 will 

 show the positions that have been successively occupied by 

 the branch E, when in course of formation, and that it is 

 by no means necessary to train a young branch from the 

 beginning in the exact position it is required to take. In 

 fact, this form is only to be well and easily perfected by 

 allowing the young shoots to first grow and gather strength 

 in an erect or oblique position. The branch E kept com- 

 pany when young with the central branch, and was at B ; 

 then it was lowered to C, next year to D, and finally to its 

 horizontal position. Some care is required to make the 

 bend of the shoots equal and easily rounded. If the tree 



