272 THE PAKKS AND GAKDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. XYII. 



though the cordons are often grown in lines one above tlie other, 

 one plant does not furnish more than one line except at the ends. 

 There, however, it is necessary to take several branches from one 

 plant to furnish the two or three lines of wire starting from the 

 same post. Here, as in many other gardens superintended by 

 experienced fruit-growers, this mode of Apple-growing is preferred 

 to any other, but the enormous number planted best speaks of the 

 estimation in which it is held. The cordons, though generally 

 well managed, are not quite so good as may be seen elsewhere, 

 owing apparently to being too closely confined to the main stem. 

 They are best and most satisfactory when allowed to form a free 

 and regular bush of spurs along the stem. It is a soil as cold, 

 stifi", and disagreeable for fruit-culture as could well be devoted to 

 that purpose. 



The programme of this school has been published, and reads as 

 follows : — 



The School of Horticulture, established in the Pioyal Kitchen Garden of Versailles, 

 is placed under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. Only 

 out-pupils are admitted; the instruction given is entirely gratuitous; and the 

 course of study continues for three years. 



Conditions of Admission. — The candidates must not be less than seventeen, or 

 more than twenty-seven, years old at the time of entrance. Ai)plications for 

 admission, drawn up on stamped paper, should be addressed to the Minister of 

 Agriculture and Commerce, so that he may receive them by the 20th of September 

 at the latest. Ko notice will be taken of any application sent in ;ifter that date. 

 Each application must be accompanied by (1) a certificate of the candidate's birth, 

 if a native of France ; (2) a certificate of good character, signed by the local 

 authorities ; (3) a medical ceitificate, to the eflect that the candidate is suflicieutly 

 strong and healthy to undertake the occupation of a gardener. On receipt of these 

 documents, which should be legally drawn up, the Minister, if everything is 

 satisfactory, will authorise the candidate to present himself for an examination, of 

 which he will send him due notice. 



Entrance Examination. — Every candidate must undergo an entrance ex- 

 amination in the following elementary subjects : (1) Reading ; (2) writing and 

 spelling (from dictation) ; (3) numeration, and the first four rules of arithmetic. 

 Credit will be given to the candidates for any technical knowledge which they 

 may possess. This examination will be held in the school on the 1st of October, 

 which is the date fixed for the commencement of the academical year and the 

 entrance of pupils. Every candidate who shall pass this examination in a satis- 

 factory manner is at once placed on tlic list of pupils, and has thenceforth right 

 of entrance into the school. 



Course of Instruction. — The main object of the course of instruction pursued 

 in the School of Horticulture at Versailles is to train up skilled and intelligent 



