36 
THE APPLE. 
and character of Fig. 26 will grow of themselves, without any training 
whatever, and, no doubt, occasionally such might be the case. Apple 
trees vary very much in habit and style of growth. Some are straggling, 
others compact ; some produce many shoots, others but few; some make 
little, others much growth. Hence the necessity of skilful training. What 
if a few orchard trees might fruit v/ell and early, and mould themselves 
into a good shape without training ? The majority would not, and the 
I 
object of the cultivator is to have all his trees well formed and fully 
furnished with fruit-bearing wood in as short a time as possible. 
Form, it is true, is of secondary moment to fertility ,* but it may gene¬ 
rally be made to add to fruitfulness, and also to add to the pleasure 
afforded by all fruit trees in gardens. Upon the form of trees also 
depends an equal supply of food to their different parts. To ensure 
this object the skilled trainer will always, if possible, concentrate the 
greatest amount of strength in the lower parts of the tree and those 
