June 15. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
iai 
Pyramidal Standards. —These, our readers know, are 
generally purchased from our nurseries with the frame¬ 
work of a pyramid already commenced ; that is to say, one 
perpendicular shoot and a few developed side-branches ; 
the lower extending from six to eight inches, and another 
series or two narrowing gradually to the point. Such 
trees, after planting and commencing growth, must have 
some attention immediately. It will be found, that when 
luxuriating freely, more shoots will be produced in some 
portions of the tree than it is expedient to retain ulti- 
timately; and as for leaving crowded spray for winter 
pruning, it is nonsense. It is not calculated to attain 
the end in view, which is, of course, to reduce the habits 
of the tree, as far as possible, to the character of a 
machine—one under complete control Those who can¬ 
not take so high an aim, assuredly should not attempt 
this high kind of culture; a course of practice both 
interesting to those who love a garden, and withal 
profitable, if pursued with judgment. However, the 
cultivator of pyramidal Pears must, from the first, keep 
in view the chief objects sought to be attained by this 
mode, which may, I think, be stated as follows:— * 
1st. To grow a complete collection of Pears in a narrow 
compass. 
2nd. To reduce them to thorough control. 
3rd. To ensure liberal crops. 
4th. By uniformity in appearance, and general manage¬ 
ment, to render them as ornamental as useful, and to 
convey an idea of system, and the triumphs of gardening 
skill. 
Such are my ideas of the mark to be aimed at. If I 
am correct, let mo endeavour to show how it may be 
consistently carried out, without an alarming amount 
of what the world calls trouble:—The one great principle 
on which the pyramidal mode turns as to practical 
routine, is that the culture shall be so conducted, as that 
the advancing tier of branches shall not be permitted to 
overhang, shade, and render-barren, the lower tier - . In 
this respect, our ingenious readers will at once perceive 
that there is an identity of purpose between pyramidal 
Pear-training and the best mode of rearing permanent 
hedges. Why does the good hedge-manager clip them 
into what is termed “hog-mane” fashion, or make the 
outline form one side of a pyramid? Why, because he 
knows that in overhanging hedges the under shoots arc 
starved through being deprived of the free influence of 
light, &c.: so thus it is principally a question of light, 
after all. In order to carry out such a plan, the shoots 
should be watched during their most active growth, and 
the month of .Tune is, of all others, the most important 
period for controlling irregularities. Of course, the 
practitioner will desire to extend the base of his pyramid 
as much as is consistent with fruitful habits; but a 
limit must be assigned to the extension of rapid-growing 
shoots, although at the base. As a general rule, we may 
observe, that as soon as any shoot has extended from 
eight to ten inches the point may be removed. This is 
done for a double reason: first, in checking the most 
powerful, to throw power into weaker, shoots, and thereby 
.contribute ultimately to the symmetry of the tree, and 
also to induce a degree of maturity or solidification 
betimes, subserving that great principle termed “ Ri¬ 
pening the wood.” Besides limiting the extension of 
the lateral and permanent branches, there will, occasion¬ 
ally, spring a host of inferior spray in various parts of 
the tree; and this, if not required to carry out the 
trainer’s object, must be pinched back as soon as three 
or four eyes in length; and the probability is, that 
embryo buds will be engendered towards the base, 
which will ultimately tend to stud the branches with 
blossom-buds in clusters close to the chief branches, and, 
of course, from the character and form of the trees, give 
the most complete control as concerns protecting matters, 
whether against frost, or the depredations of birds, &c. 
Thus much, for the present, about Pyramidal Pears; 
but, ot course, our readers will have made up their minds 
as to what height they intend them to go; for when-they 
have attained that height the leader may be pinched, i 
It will be understood that the side developments are 
progressing in character; it takes four or five years to j 
establish a good pyramid, and the order observed in 
establishing the lower tier of branches must bo pursued 
m turn all the way up the stem; so that in a pyramid of 
some three or four years’ planting matters will stand 
thus . A lower horizontal tier or two extending some 
two or three feet from the central stem, still preserving 
a point for extension, and studded all its length with 
spurs, or the germs of future spurs ; another tier or two 
above that treading in the steps of its predecessors; and 
upwards, other series, some developed last year, and ; 
shortened at winter-pruning according to pyramidal 
principles; and finally, the leader of last year just , 
developing a new series ; and so on. I may not dwell 
longer on the pyramids, but must proceed to other Pear¬ 
training; for to explain all the minutiae would be to 
make a book, and which, to many, would be tedious. 
I he Table Trellis. — This is a favourite mode witli 
me. I have Pears in most forms, but I do think I have 
had more success by this mode than any other. It is 
not, however, tire thing for those who like to see their 
fruit staring them in the face, for the Table Trellis is 
noted for its modest pretensions in- this respect; be 
there ever so abundant a crop, an ordinary observer | 
would think lightly of them, as not one Pear in a score ! 
can be seen, unless the inspector go down on his knees. ; 
If this mode is confined to the margins of the garden I 
borders, I recommend, above all things, the north mar- : 
gin of a border running east and west. Here the leaders 
may be trained north and south, in parallel lines, at 
about a foot apart, and all fruitful-looking spray tied 
down neatly on the leaders, so that the whole stem 
become regularly studded with spurs. I do hold it 
essential that the lines of main branches run north 
and south, and that their distances be so regulated as 
that the sun may fairly shine on the soil beneath them 
for an hour or two on sunny days. I do not say that 
they will not succeed by other plans ; but that this pos¬ 
sesses vast advantages, and is, as to many kinds, equal 
to a wall, and with some, superior. In order to carry 
out such objects, it is requisite to allow a liberal space 
between the leading shoots, and to pinch and train 
betimes. In pursuance of such principles, a main shoot j 
may be carried right and left from the main stem, east ! 
and west; and from such, if it is desired to carry out j 
the plan in a systematic way, the parallel lines of what 
T will term second-class shoots should emanate. The I 
tree thus established becomes a permanent or living 
trellis; for on these are annually tied down a succession 1 
oi wood of a fruitful character. Such a course necessa¬ 
rily involves a removal, periodically, of old or barren 
shoots; but I find no necessity to do so annually : about 
once in two or three years suffices; and then I find it 
expedient to place them under a thorough revision. 
A young tree, in course of training, say, planted last 
autumn, should now be in a tolerably vigorous state, 
and should, for this Table Trellis plan, have been selected 
with two good shoots proceeding, in an equal way, from 
the main stem; of course, their height from the'soil 
determined by the height it is desired to establish the 
table above the ground level. During the first season, 
it is probable that they will need no pinching, for luxu¬ 
riance cannot be expected of them; but in the second 
year, if the soil and appliances have been of an en¬ 
couraging character, the growth of many will be rather 
rampant, and now a chance may occur which must not 
be lost.. It being desirable, of course, to not only carry 
out the leading shoots to their full extent as soon as 
possible, but also to obtain and lay down as many of 
