PYRAMIDAL TRAINING OF THE PEAR TREE. 385 



in the desired condition. During the summer following the 

 second pruning, the operations for maintaining the lead 

 with the vertical branch, and equality among the lateral 

 shoots of the new growth, must be carried out as before 

 described. The third pruning is shown at Eig. 185, and it 

 will be seen that here again the young lateral branches of 



Fig. 188. 



Pyramidal Pear Tree. Fourth pruning. 



the preceding summer are cut in much shorter than the 

 lower ones to favour the development of these. 



At the fourth pruning the lower branches are not cut 

 nearly so long as in the previous pruning, because they have 

 now attained to almost the desired length and sufficient 

 vigour. The new branches of the second series are left 

 somewhat longer, and the pruner looks more to the top 

 structure, so to speak. The wisdom of well forming 

 the base at first will be seen at a glance. During the 



c c 



