ON PRUNING AND TRAINING PLANTS TO FORM STANDARDS. 
17 
its having completed its first year's progress, if a seedling, or from the very begin- 
ning of its developments, if reared from a cutting or layer. We make tliis 
distinction because a seedling plant (if it be a shrubby one) seldom commences 
branching before the second year of its existence ; whereas, one raised by other 
means generally begins to branch at once, in consequence of mostly having upon it 
more than one mature bud. The best rule, however, relates to the disposition to 
branch ; and a specimen that is intended for a standard, should not be suffered to 
branch at all until it has gained its destined height ; for the way to form a 
standard well and quickly, is to keep it always growing upwards, without having 
any of its supplies withdrawn into lateral channels. 
One of the readiest modes of ensuring an erect and vigorous growth to a 
standard, is to remove the rudimentary laterals as soon as they begin to burst forth. 
It is not wise to leave them till they have been developed three or four inches, as is 
usually done. They should be carefully and frequently inspected, and the expand- 
ing shoots cut out of the axils of the leaves or away from the stem, while they have 
yet hardly pushed beyond the bud-scales. 
Here, too, it is necessary to guard against a mistake, into which an amateur might 
naturally fall, in supposing that, since the rapid upright development of the plant is 
sought, it will be advisable to leave the leading shoot alone, save by freeing it from 
laterals. Either because tlie energies of the plant get enfeebled and partly 
exhausted, or because the season grows unpropitious, or the supply of nutriment 
fails, or from some less understood cause, the extremities of the shoots of every 
woody plant are always more or less slender, weakly, and imperfect, whether 
those shoots be merely laterals or leading ones ; and this is particularly apparent m 
some seasons, and under certain circumstances. Specimens in plant-houses are 
peculiarly liable to this degeneracy towards the points of their shoots. 
Now, if the main and only stem of a young plant were thus contracted at the 
top, the probability would be, that the first growth it made in the following season, 
would be from some of the strong lateral buds situated on the stouter part of it. 
Indeed, this would almost certainly be the result ; and as, by that means, the aim 
of the cultivator would be in a great measure defeated, the safer plan is to cut 
down the stem in autumn, as far as one of the most promising buds on the 
strongest part. When its growth commenced in the spring, the bud in question 
would be first excited, and would soon become the leading shoot, the rest being cut 
ofi^ as fast as they appeared. And provided the stem has been cut close to this 
principal bud, it will continue growing upwards with nearly as perfect a continuity 
as it if had never been severed. 
When the required height of stem has been obtained —this height being 
constantly proportioned to its strength and to the general character of the head — ■ 
the superfluous upward growth should be cut off, and the plant will then be 
excited to throw out laterals. These will have to be regulated, as well as to their 
number as their position ; for they ought not to be much crowded, nor should they 
VOL. XI. CXXI. D 
