136 



GARDENERS- CHROMCLE 



Fruit Trees on Walls and Trellises 



C(_)MI\IERCIAL fruit-growing laughs at any shape 

 of trees in America not "near to Nature." In oiu 

 fruit-favored chmate, it is not necessary to train 

 each stem and twig to face the sun, as must be done 

 in the less favored, dull climates of northern Europe,, 

 or to keep the trees dwarfed, for he who grows for the 

 markets in this country can find land in plenty for his 

 plantation. But there are thousands of men and women 

 in America who now grow fruit for a pastime. To these 

 pleasure seekers on small places, dwarf trees and trees 

 trained in fanciful shapes on fence or wall make a strong 



A Dcivrf I'cnr Tree Trained Tan Shat'cd 



appeal. Trees so trained enable them to have greater 

 numbers of fruits and varieties ; finer fruits may be 

 grown on these brought-up-by-hand trees under garden- 

 culture ; and, these elaborately-trained plants are good to 

 look upon. 



The apple and pear are the fruits most commonly 

 grown in fanciful shapes on walls and trellises, but 

 peach, plum and cherry may be quite as easily trained 

 as cordon or espalier, or in fan, U, or any other of the 

 several figures used on permanent supports. The peach 

 prospers greatly on a protected wall in a cold climate, 

 and may be made to bear fruit annually, where, if planted 

 as a standard in the open, it would succumb to the cold 

 or give but an occasional crop. 



Many have the opinion that only specimen plants 

 started in European nurseries can be used for trained 

 miniature trees, but this is not true: one-year-olds from 

 American nurseries may be used. It is, of course, more 

 difficult to train these free-growing Americans, but the 

 pleasure of training is part of the game, and it is a pleas- 

 ant pastime to "personally conduct" tender yearling 

 whips to crabbed age as handsome trained plants, such 

 as those shown in the accompanying illustrations. As to 

 varieties of the several fruits, there is probably some 

 choice with all if on? but knew. So little has been done 

 in America, in training trees other than as standards, 

 that lists of suitable varieties cannot be recommended. 

 With present knowledge, therefore, one can onlv say, 

 choose choice varieties. Fill the allotted space with fa- 



\-orite kinds. A fair measure of success can be obtained 

 with any and all. 



Theoretically, however, it is better to work with plants 

 on dwarfing stocks as, apples on the Paradise or Doucin, 

 or the pear on quince ; but it is difficult, if not impossible, 

 to get true dwarf trees in America so that the grower 

 must be content with standards. The trees must be 

 given shape in the days of their youth ; therefore, buy 

 yearling whips unless the nurseryman has started the 

 training for you. A few nurserymen sell specimen 

 plants, but they are forced to charge fancy prices. In 

 buying, remember that true-to-name variety and good- 

 name-nurseryman go together. 



A permanent support is necessary. This may be the 

 side of a bam, garage, or the house itself. Well trained, 

 any fruit will ornament the wall of any building, though 

 one might not choose the front of one"s house for even 

 the handsomest trained plant. A garden fence is an 

 excellent support for some of the forms of trained plants. 

 But, more often than not, a trellis of wood or wire must 

 be constructed as a supp(jrt. This may be of such shape 

 as suits the fancy of the grower, or, more particularly, 

 it should suit the method of training. 



In our hot sunny climate, it is seldom that south walls 

 can be used for fruits which blossom early ; the peach or 

 apricot, for example, are almost certain to put forth 

 bloom on a south wall only to be nipped by imtimely 

 frost. The plum or cherry, or even the apple or pear, 

 may be forced on a south face of a wall. An easterly or 

 westerly face serves best for most fruits. 



Whether brick, stone or wood, the wall should be 

 wired. The wires should be kept in place at about two 

 inches from the wall, and should run in lines about ten 

 inches apart. It is much easier to tie branches to these 

 wires than to nail them to the wall ; tying saves the wall 

 from injury by constant nailing ; the branches form fruit 

 buds all around, which they cannot do when close to the 

 wall ; and when fastened to wires the plants oiTer less 

 shelter to insects. 



Trellises or espalier fences should be of the best pos- 

 sible material since- they must stand a long time. Iron 

 posts are more durable than wood, although wood is 

 more often used and when kept painted is satisfactory. 

 The trellises are usually from six to nine feet in height. 



A Dicarf Ahf^lc Tree Trained on Espaliers 



