6 



THE MINIATURE FRUIT G-ARDEK 



August will each put forth three, four, or more 

 shoots. In June, as soon as these have made four 

 leaves, they must be pinched off to three leaves, 

 and if these spurs put forth shoots, which they 

 often do, every shoot must be pinched down to one 

 leaf, all but the leading shoot of each side branch / 

 this must be left on to exhaust the tree of its super- 

 abundant sap, till the end of August. The perpen- 

 dicular leader must be topped once or twice ;. in short, 

 as soon as it has grown ten inches, pinch off its top, 

 and if it break into two or three shoots, pinch them 

 all but the leader, as directed for the first season ; in 

 a few years most symmetrical trees may be formed. 



When they have attained the height of six or eight 

 feet, and are still in a vigorous state, it will be neces- 

 sary to commence root-pruning, to bring them into a 

 fruitful state. 



If some of the buds in the stem of a young tree 

 prove dormant, so that part of it is bare and without 

 a shoot where there should be one, a notch, half an 

 inch wide, and nearly the same in depth, should be 

 cut in the stem just above the dormant bud. If this 

 be done in February, a young shoot will break out 

 in the summer. 1 



I have thus far given directions for those who are 

 inclined to rear their own pyramids. Time and at- 

 tention are required, but the interest attached to well- 

 trained pyramids will amply repay the young cultiva- 

 tor. 



1 Bare places in the stems of pyramids, and in the branches of espaliers or wall 

 trees, may be budded toward the end of August with blossom-buds taken from 

 shoots two years old. This is a very interesting mode of furnishing a tree- with 

 t'ruit-bearing buds. 



