200 [ THE PEAR TREE 



double oblique cordons should make out lozenge-shaped 

 spaces with the greater diameter directed horizontally. 



The horizontal cordon may be simple or double. 

 In the first case the leader having reached the desired 

 height is bent at right angles and the fruit spurs are 

 encouraged to form on its whole length, commencing 

 from 30 to 50 c. m. above the ground, removing at 

 once all the vigorous shoots or leaders which may 

 spring up at or about the bend. To obtain the double 

 horizontal cordon the leader is stopped at the desired 

 height, and two vigorous shoots or leaders are afterwards 

 retained at the summit, in opposite directions and are 

 bent down at right angles to form the horizontal 

 branches. Taking the maximum total development of 

 the simple horizontal cordon, or of both branches of 

 the double horizontal cordon at 3 metres and supposing 

 the height of the wire support or fence to be 2^ metres, 

 with four stretches of wire about 66 c. m. apart 

 commencing at half a metre from the ground, it is obvious 

 that the cordons must be planted about 75 c. m. 

 apart, distributing them in a manner so that the tallest 

 stemmed cordons may be at least 3 metres apart, and 

 approximately the same distance is retained for cordons 

 of each height in succession. This method seems to be 

 a complicated one in theory, but will be found to be 

 quite simple in practice. 



The convolute or spiral cordon is a vertical cordon 

 made to assume a spiral shape which of course gives 

 a greater fruiting area for the same height of stem. 

 The multiple spiral is a one-sided palmette or fan 

 made to assume a spiral shape. 



The multiple-stemmed contre-espallier, often called 

 palmette or fan-shape, may have two, three, four, five 

 or more branches, the more complex sorts requiring 

 considerable industry to obtain, and the insertion of buds 

 (budding) is often necessary to induce the production 

 of branches properly situated. The simplest form is 



