io THE BOOK OF THE APPLE 



the side of walks in the kitchen and fruit garden they 

 are most useful ; the two branches may be extended any 

 distance along the wire, to which they must be tied. 

 This wire is easily fixed up by driving short iron stakes 

 into the ground, each having a hole in the top, through 

 which to pass the wire. For a simple, inexpensive and 

 profitable manner of cultivating the apple this is to be 

 recommended. Apples on walls are not extensively 

 grown in Britain, simply because, generally speaking, 

 such a method is superfluous. We have for some 

 years grown cordons against a wall, but it is doubtful 

 if better fruit has been thus obtained than from the 

 open. Cordons and horizontally trained trees are the 

 most suitable forms for planting against walls. 



PLANTING 



Before describing the details for the carrying 

 out of this, one of the most important operations 

 connected with the cultivation of all fruit trees, a 

 word or two must first be written with respect to the 

 purchase and treatment of trees previous to planting. 

 Always make a point of dealing with a firm whose cul- 

 tural skill and supply of good plants are known to be 

 reliable, otherwise disappointment will be sure to result, 

 and several years of patient labour and care will have 

 been completely thrown away. It is most important 

 that good quality trees, true to name, should be 

 obtained, for then the planter can devote his energies to 

 the culture of his plants with the certainty of having 

 made a good beginning, so far as these items are con- 

 cerned. Nothing is more annoying than to find when a 

 tree comes into bearing that it is not the variety one 

 was under the impression of having planted, but one 

 perhaps that is practically worthless. Dealing with 

 reliable, well-known firms will, however, ensure the de- 



