1873.] THE APPLE: ITS CULTtJEE AND VARIETIES. CHAPTER IV. 129 



If there is any exception to be made, it must be in favour of the Cordons, which 

 should always be on the Paradise stocks. Maiden trees have generally, or ought 

 to have, one strong predominant shoot from the bud, or graft, as the case may be. 

 This shoot should be shortened back to within three or four buds of the base, which 

 should be not less than 6 in. from the surface level of the soil. This shortening- 

 back is best done when the trees are thoroughly dormant, and I presume that 

 will be when the foliage and branches cease to exert any influence on the 

 action of the roots, say towards the end of November, by which time most 

 deciduous trees are denuded of their foliage, and we may reasonably conclude 

 that the reciprocal action between the roots and branches is weak, and that 

 then we may safely shorten the main shoot, in order that the dormant buds left 

 may have the benefit of storing up resources sent up by the roots, so as to break 

 into a strong and luxuriant growth in the spring. For, be it observed, that 

 although we desire to place a tight but judicious curb on the after-growth, we 

 want a strong and healthy subject to work upon, and must lay a good foundation 

 by giving the first year's growth a free development and every encouragement. 

 It is at this point that the real education or training of the tree commences, and 

 this is also the point at which so many mistakes are made. IfUft alone^ the trees 

 will continue to develop a luxuriant growth of wood, and will be some years before 



Cordon Training. 



they exhaust their tendency to make growth and proceed to fruit-bearing ; but 

 on the contrary, by lifting and replanting as soon as the leaves drop, such a 

 check is given to future development that little or no shorteningrback is neces- 

 sary, and the trees, on the paradise stock at least, will begin to form fruit-buds 

 the next year. Some varieties on the free stock may submit to this course of 

 treatment for Cordons, but as a general rule, they are altogether too free in 

 growth and better suited for such trees as have more room for development. 



In training trees for Espaliers, a somewhat different mode of treatment must 

 be adopted at the first, for whereas the cordon will only require one strong shoot 

 diverging each way from the centre stem, the espalier will require, in addition, 

 a central stem trained vertically, to form the foundation of future horizontal 

 branches ; and in this case it is best to leave the trees two years without lifting 

 and replanting. To have well-furnished trees, it is best to be satisfied with two 

 side shoots every year, so that the centre shoot at the dormant season should be 

 shortened to 8 in., which is about the best distance at which to train the hori- 

 zontal branches, and from this, again, one centre shoot must be led up, and two 

 side branches must be trained horizontally, the same process being repeated year 

 by year until the space is furnished. — John Cox, Redleaf. 



