CHAP. IV VILLA GAEDENING 251 



danger of being tempted to crowd too much wood in as there is 

 wdth fan training. The distances between the trees must depend 

 upon the nature of the soil, the mode of training, etc., and if the 

 trees are on the Quince or the Pear. Wherever the soil is good 

 and deep, or can be made so, have the trees on the Pear stock, 

 using the Quince on cold heavy soils only. On the Pear stock 

 trained horizontally, plant from 1 5 feet to 1 8 feet apart ; if on the 

 Quince, hahf that distance will suffice. Fan-trained trees may be 

 planted from 14 feet to IG feet apart; palmettes, from 7 feet to 

 10 feet, or 12 feet is a good distance and permits of the wall being 

 quickly covered ; cordons, 1 S inches ; two-branched cordons, 3 feet. 

 After the trees have been planted a few years, they often develop 

 considerable vigoiu', especially where the soil is good. When this 

 period arrives it is a good plan to lift the roots, undermining the 

 ball so as to reach any that may be running down perpendicularly. 

 Sometimes the trees may be altogether lifted out and replanted, 

 especially if they are too crowded ; or if too much space has been 

 allowed they may be drawn nearer to each other. Lifting will 

 give an opportunity to rearrange them as regards distance. 



Summer Maxagemext. — The most important item is the 

 manipulation of the young growth. The chief work of a plant is 

 performed by the leaves. In them is concealed the laboratory 

 where the sap, which comes up in immense quantities from the 

 roots, is distilled as it were, the waste passing off into the atmo- 

 sphere in the shape of vapour, and the small modicum of useful 

 matter is spread over the whole plant in the shape of new growth. 

 Now it will be easily understood that neither men nor plants in a 

 crowded condition can do as much work as where each has 

 room to strike out. In fruit growing the sun is everything ; it 

 is not only colour and flavour, but the blossom of the fruit in 

 its first germ, stimulating the action of the leaves and dissi- 

 pating the crude watery matter from the young wood, which 

 wiU in due course produce the fertile buds. The intelligent cul- 

 tivator will work with the sun all through the summer, though of 

 course only as a very humble assistant. He will keep the young 

 growth thin, so that there shall be no overshadowing of one part 

 by another. In the spring something more might be done in the 

 way of disbudding. Many buds burst and grow a few inches, 

 which are no use as factors for the futm'e crop, l)ut rather the 

 reverse, for, if left, they tend to fill the main branches with useless 

 spurs. These might with advantage be rubbed ott" when quite 

 little, as small leaves that cannot become lai'ge enough to foster a 

 fruit bud are better away altogether. As the summer advances 

 the young wood which forms the key of the position will require 



