CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



Horizontal Form. 



Horizontal Training, shewn in the accompanying 

 figure ; there being one principal or central stem, 

 from which side-branches diverge at right angles, 

 and at regular distances about ten inches apart. 

 This form is best adapted for strong growing 

 trees, such as the Ribstone pippin apple, or 

 Gansel's Bergamot pear ; but it may be so modi- 

 fied as to suit the more twiggy kinds. It is thus 

 described by Dr Neill, the ' Father of Scottish 

 Gardening :' ' In order to produce this form, the 

 vertical shoot is, in trees of ordinary vigour, cut 

 back every winter to within fourteen inches of the 

 highest pair of branches ; a number of shoots are 

 produced in the beginning of each summer, out 

 of which three are selected ; one is trained in the 

 original direction of the stem, and one on each 

 side of it, parallel to the base of the wall. By 

 pinching off the point of the leading shoot about 

 midsummer, another pair may be obtained in 

 autumn. In luxuriant trees, the vertical shoot 

 may be left two feet in length, by which means, 

 and by summer-pruning, four pair of branches 

 may sometimes be added in one season. The 

 great object at first ought to be to draw the stem 

 upwards ; when it has reached the top of the wall, 

 it is made to divaricate into two ; and the tree 



530 



when once fully formed, rarely break into barren 

 shoots, though one of the eyes may do so. 



Wall-training. The circumstance of apple- 

 trees and other kinds of fruit-trees producing fruit 

 only on the outer parts, which are freely exposed 

 to the sun and air, has led to numerous contriv- 

 ances for exposing the inner as well as the outer 

 stems. One method, as is well known, is the 

 training of the tree in a flat shape against a wall 

 a plan also advantageous for enjoying the heat, 

 which the wall receives and radiates against the 

 branches. The training of trees upon a wall is a 

 very artificial process, but by no means inimical 

 to their healthy growth, being, on the contrary, 

 conducive to their fertility, while it also facilitates 

 the ripening of the fruit. Much attention is re- 

 quired, however, to carry out the system, and 

 prevent the branches escaping from their con- 

 strained situation ; and in pruning, the operator 

 must keep before him the habit of the particular 

 tree, and the form desired. One great point 

 is to induce or preserve equilibrium in the 

 growth of the tree, so as to give it ultimately a 

 symmetrical form. Numerous methods of training 

 have been introduced, but the best for general 

 purposes, and that which has been most exten- 

 sively employed in this country, is the form called 



thus completed as to its height, is henceforth 

 suffered to increase in breadth only.' 



The next form of training we shall notice is 

 called Fan-training, from the branches spreading 

 out from a common origin ; there being no pro- 

 longed main axis, as in horizontal training. The 

 accompanying wood-cut will serve to illustrate 



Fan Form. 



this form better than a lengthened description. 

 Of course this method can only be adopted suc- 

 cessfully where there are lofty walls. 



A kind of training called half-fan has been 

 brought into notice, but is, in fact, a modification 

 of the horizontal form, with this difference, that 

 the branches form a more or less acute angle with 

 the stem, which is supposed to favour the natural 

 flow of sap. One of the forms of this method is 

 represented below. 



Half-fan. 



Espaliers. These are rails usually four to six 

 feet in height, and were formerly made of upright 

 and cross bars of wood, but now more generally 

 formed of malleable or galvanised iron. To these 

 the trees are trained as on a wall, with this differ- 

 ence, that instead of being nailed, the branches 

 are usually tied ; the fastenings are tar-twine or 

 strips of bast The situation of espaliers is 

 generally parallel with the sides of walks, having 

 a border of same width on the walk between, 

 occupied by flowers, strawberries, or small growing 

 culinary vegetables ; and if the trees be carefully 

 trained, they have a neat effect Care must be 

 taken that they do not prevent the sun and air 

 from reaching the kitchen vegetables. When 

 properly managed and well exposed, espalier-trees 

 ' generally produce excellent fruit, the sun and air 

 having access to both sides of the tree ; they 





