154 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



between the tree and the wall or fence to allow for the thickening of the stem, giving 

 the head a gentle leaning against the training surface. Usually, 6 inches of space is 

 sufficient, and in no case need it exceed 9 inches. As the soil at the foot of walls or 

 fences is sometimes dry when that in the open is quite moist, use enough of the latter 

 for planting, and afford the requisite watering. The branches should be secured loosely 

 to the wall or fence, not affixing them in their proper position until the ground has 

 settled. That is important. 



PRESERVING THE NAMES OF FRUITS. 



When fruit trees or bushes are obtained from nurseries, they have the names of the 

 varieties attached, and it is important that these be preserved. The small parchment or 

 other labels that are usually secured to them with string are only of a temporary 

 character, for the writing is soon obliterated and the ligatures decay. The disappoint- 

 ment caused by the loss of names is very great, and they can only be obtained again by 

 incurring much trouble, and some expense in sending specimens of fruit from time to 

 time to authorities in nomenclature. It is easy to prevent the necessity for this, and 

 unquestionably it ought to be prevented. 



It is not in all cases deemed necessary to attach labels to the trees, and in large plan- 

 tations of fruit the practice is seldom resorted to, but whether labels are employed or not 

 it is most desirable that the positions of the trees be marked on a plan. This may be 

 made of glazed canvas, such as architects use for their drawings, and can be rolled on a 

 curtain rod and preserved. The plan can be easily drawn to a scale, and each tree repre- 

 sented by its number, against which its name is placed in a book. This should be done 

 immediately the work is completed. The nomenclature is then secured. Labels are apt 

 to be lost by accident, carelessness, or mischief, yet they cannot be dispensed with in 

 collections of fruit in private gardens. In many of these a number of varieties of 

 apples, pears, and other fruits are planted with the object of comparing the fruit of one 

 with the other, and determining the characteristics of each. This is both interesting and 

 instructive, and it is undoubtedly convenient to have the names of the varieties attached 

 to the trees. 



Labels should be durable and they should be safe ; the ligatures must not be of fine 

 wire closely twisted and fastened round a small branch, as they are almost certain to be 

 forgotten and do serious mischief by cutting through the bark and into the wood in con- 

 sequence of the gradual swelling of the stems to which they are attached. Many fruit 



