84 
METHODS OF TRAINING FRUIT-TREES. 
stake, to which the most central shoot is always trained. Two lateral 
shoots are tied down horizontally, about eight or ten inches from the 
ground^ annually continued outwards from the stem as far as they will 
gO; or until they have reached to the outside of the space the tree is 
intended to cover. Thus the young tree consists of only three shoots 
during the first year. At the end of the first year the central leader is 
pruned down to about a foot long, and this on the following summer 
will, or may be allowed to, produce three shoots, the topmost to be 
trained upright, and the others, one on each side horizontally. This 
method of pruning down the upright, and leading the laterals horizon¬ 
tally, is continued year after year, until the central shoot reaches the 
top, when, if the two last laterals are high enough, it is entirely pruned 
off. 
When a young tree is very vigorous, the desired form may be more 
" expeditiously obtained, by making the upright produce two pairs of 
laterals, instead of one pair. This is done by stopping the upright 
when it has attained the length of twelve or thirteen inches. This, 
will happen, perhaps, about the beginning of July; and will cause 
three other shoots to be produced during the Autumn, to be trained as 
before. We have seen a young Jargonelle pear tree managed so as to 
produce three pairs of laterals in the course of one summer; but this is 
not a common case. 
Some practitioners prefer having two stems rather than one, because 
it diverts the upright current of the sap into two channels, and thereby 
induces a slower growth, which is favourable to early fruitfulness. In 
this plan, a young tree having four shoots is planted between two 
stakes. These receive the two middle shoots to form the uprights, 
and the two outside shoots are tied down horizontally. The uprights 
are annually pruned down to furnish laterals year after year till the 
form is complete. 
Whether with one or two stems this style of training always looks 
neat; and, when the trees are also fruitful, is preferable to any other, 
whether on a low wall or espalier. But it requires considerable skill 
and almost hourly attendance during the summer, to accomplish this 
desirable result. The natural tendency of the tree is to rise upward; 
and instead of the buds which come forth from the stem and branches 
being formed into flowers, they are chiefly produced into barren shoots. 
A strong growth of these are annually produced, and for the most part at 
right angles to the branches ; and therefore, departing so entirely from 
the style of training, must necessarily be pruned off to maintain the 
symmetry of the tree. If this luxuriant summer growth be allowed, 
it at the same time strengthens and extends the roots by prompting 
