PINCHING OFF UPPER GROWTH
In the same way that the roots are kept within a limited and
small compass by regular pruning, it is also necessary to keep
the upper growth of the tree within check by frequent attention.
This is never done by cutting but always by pinching off with
the finger and thumb.
Normally, the growing period of the tree is throughout spring
and early summer and frequent attention is then desirable. The
growth of the tree consists of (i) extension and broadening of
the main stem or trunk, and (ii) the growth of branches.
Pinching off the upward growths will restrict the height. The
branch growths first materialize as little off-shoots and these need
to be restricted by pinching off. Subsequently the branches will
grow little shoots and these also need to be restricted by judicious
pinching off.
The art of producing true miniatures is in this combined
pruning and pinching. The aim is to produce a tree with the
characteristic shape, growth and proportions of the full-size type.
This means obtaining a proportionate balance between the
growth of the roots and the upper parts. The pinching off operations should be done in such a way that they keep the shape and
form of the tree to that of a typical specimen of full size. As in
all things, perfection cannot be obtained without practice, experience and constant striving, nevertheless, some excellent
miniature trees should be obtained with first efforts.
SHAPING AND TWISTING
The pinching off operations described above controlled the
general shape of the foliage and the visible form of the tree. In
this paragraph we are concerned with the shaping of the tree into
the artistic or grotesque forms so frequently associated with the
stunted trees of the Japanese. This work need not be attempted
where one only desires miniature trees of normal appearance.
Any special shaping or final appearance proposed should be
considered early and the first training of the treelet may need to
be started before the end of the first year and when the seedling
is still green and very pliable. It is an advantage if one can
envisage a picture of the shape and form desired well in advance,
as the seedling can then be trained to the preconceived pattern.
The shaping of the trunk and branches is done by some method
of holding the green, pliable shoots temporarily into the shape
desired until they have hardened to that shape. Any method
which can achieve this can be used. The simplest is perhaps a
single upright stake where the bend occurs, shaped into a loop
and tied again where the next loop crosses the stick, and so on.
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