Phil. That rootstock is one of a bunch of water sprouts that came up there from a larger pear tree that was smashed by one of our ice storms. Huge limb from a nearby maple fell on it. So, that one sprout was just loaded with branches that tended to grow almost adjacent to each other all the way up the tree. I just took advantage of that growth habit and trimmed away the branches that I didn't want. Worked out pretty nicely.

I've been considering using some old woven wire fencing I have to make that tree into an espalier. I have some old RR ties that I can use as posts. I could then have lateral branches that range from about 2' to 8'+ off the ground. It would make good use of the space I have in that spot. Just something I've been kicking around in my head.

BTW, thank you for the Hosui.