20 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



obliquely to gain another foot or two for extension. Cor- 

 dons may make a few gross side shoots in summer, and 

 these can be cut back to four eyes in August ; but I do 

 not advise the leading shoot to be shortened the first year, 

 as that operation sometimes checks growth and leads to 

 the formation of fruit buds which make it difficult to 

 obtain a growth lead in the following year. But after a 

 summer's growth the lead may be shortened to cause fruit 

 buds to form and produce new side spurs. Double cordons 

 for edgings can be treated in the same manner. 



ESPALIER TREES 



During the first year espalier trees should be left to 

 grow as they like, but if the lateral arms throw out any 

 wood growths which may tend to weaken the leaders, cut 

 these back to four leaves in August, not earlier, and the 

 following winter the extension laterals, which may have 

 formed some fruit buds at their base, must be cut in to a 

 growth bud for producing new wood for extension ; such 

 growths must be trained laterally as they form. It is impor- 

 tant in pruning the laterals or side branches that the upper 

 shoots should be cut back more severely than the lower 

 shoots say, like the letter A otherwise the upper arms 

 may prevent the lower ones from developing. 



If espaliers of two tiers of branches are planted, and the 

 intention is to have five tiers, the way to get these is to cut 

 back the central leader to 15 inches each year in February. 

 From the end thus left on the tree three or four shoots 

 arise ; the side ones in the best positions are trained to the 



