central growth at eight inches or so above the highest pair of oppo-
site branches. It then breaks again, and care is taken to secure
two side shoots and one erect one. Thus, with care, and in good
soil, two stages of branches may be secured in the same year, but
this must not be attempted till the proper formation of the two
lower branches is secured. The dotted lines in Fig. 41 will show
the positions that have been successively occupied by the branch E,
when in course of formation, and that it is by no means necessary to
train a young branch from the beginning in the exact position it is
required to take. In fact, this form is only to be well and easily per-



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"^66 The Palmette Verrier.
fected by allowing the young shoots to first grow and gather strength
in an erect or oblique position. The branch E kept company when
young with the central branch, and was at B ; then it was low:ered
to C, next year to D, and finally to its horizontal position. Some
care is required to make the bend of the shoots equal and easily
rounded. If the tree be trained on a wire trellis, as depicted in
^^g- 2>1y it is best to place two bent rods in the exact position
requisite, and before we require the shoot to be bent. They
mast be placed at exactly equal distances from the main stem, and
be equal in curvature. Then it is an easy matter to gently attach
the growing shoot to them ; it will soon harden to the desired bend.
