AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 67 
positions, being better adapted for one than for another. 
Fruit-trees are those more especially referred to; it is 
an easy matter to train annual climbers, both indoors and | 
Training—continued. ; | 
out, if only the necessary requirements of the plant are 
kept in view. The same may also be said of creepers or 
trailers generally, when their shoots are suffi- 
ciently thinned out. The methods of Training 
a plant to a rafter, on a wire trellis, or round 
a certain number of sticks, are matters 
which scarcely need an explanation. 
The principal methods of Training adopted 
for wall-fruit trees are the Fan, Horizontal, 
Oblique, and Cordon, all being subject, more 
or less, to modifications ; for the open ground, za 
Pyramids, Bushes, and Standards are the 
shapes most favoured. Fan Training is 
generally adopted for stone fruits—Apricots, 
Cherries, Peaches, and Plums, The trees 
may be worked on dwarf or tall stocks, but 
on the latter the system is often modified 
by bringing some of the branches down on 
either side of the stem when there is space. 
Fan Training must be commenced on 
maiden trees, that is, trees which have 
been worked the previous year and have 
made one strong shoot. This is cut down nearly to 
the point of union, in order to induce the production of 
shoots therefrom to eventually form the principal branches. 
One of the chief conditions to be aimed at in Fan Training 
is to get the head equally balanced, by having the same 
number of shoots on one side of the centre as on the 
other, as shown, for example, in Fig. 71. If sufficient 
can be secured the first year for starting an evenly- 
balanced head, an advantage is gained which the tree 
will always show afterwards. Shoulda young tree start 
irregularly, and misplaced shoots be allowed to develop 
for a season, it is not an easy matter then to secure 
others where they are wanted from the base. Some- 
times, trees are cut hard back a second time, but this is | 
a most objectionable practice; the less severe cutting | 
is resorted to, the better, as it invariably leads to 
branches dying away sooner or later. By regulating the 
young shoots, depressing the stronger and elevating the 
weaker ones, much may be done to equalise the flow 
of sap, and render them all of about equal dimensions | 
at the end of the season. In this and in other systems © 
of Training, much has to be known by the operator from 
practical experience in the work, and constant attention 
is necessary from the first, to keep the shoots properly 
iat 
Fic. 72. FAN TRAINING. 
disposed and the sap regulated. Fig. 72 represents a 
trained without a centre shoot ; the sap in such a "e 
would be equally distributed on both of the sides, and 1 
isa comparatively easy matter to get the centre filled up 
when once the sides are equalised and 
Horizontal Training is largely employed for Pear-trees, 
and sometimes for Apples 
“ 
Training—continued. 3 
walls or as Espaliers in the open ground. Espalier trees 
are sometimes trained on horizontal wires, as shown 
Fig. 73. When there is a great length, and in a straight 
line, wires are preferable to stakes, if only for — 
bility. A young tree with a single upright stem 
down to about 12in. from the ground, 
are three buds situated near that point, one on eit 
side, and one in an eligible position for growing to form 
the leader. The two side shoots should be trained 
an angle for the first year, and induced to grow, 
possible, with equal vigour; they can afterwards 
between the horizontal hes. s th ceeds 
each year (as shown in Fig. 74) ; every pair of branches | é 
p 
ee a 7 
$ Eaa y 
Fio. 75. HORIZONTAL TRAINING. 
