Kenneth,
There is a faster method of gaining girth and taper if you are interested, although I will not recomend it because I have seen it denounced by some of the members of this forum with much experience, and whom I have the utmost respect...but it has worked for me with several baldys and in fact I currently have one which I purchased last year on August 2 in the Wal-Mart discount section for 5 dollars...I do not have a photo of when I obtained it but it had a diameter at the base of 3/4 inch and only had 3 leaves on it...Today one year later the base is a little over 2 inches and it is developing nice taper...if I am able to let it continue to grow for another season or 2 I think it will also develop flutes on the flared base...I have had this happen in the past using this method...
If you are interested I can take a current photo, and try to explain how I am growing this tree on...
Regards
Behr
