246 



PRUNING. 



"Another advantage of importance is, that on the same 

 extent of wall required for an espalier of the large kind, 

 you can have a great many cordons, each of which may 

 IDC a different variety, thus greatly increasing the interest 

 of the plantation. 



" Besides, if a large espalier tree dies, it makes a great 

 blank on a wall, and requires a quarter of a century to 





Fig. 119. OBLIQUE CORDON PEAK-TREES. 



replace it ; but if a cordon dies, the blank is a small one, 

 and very soon filled up with a new tree. 



" The following objections have been urged against this 

 form : 



"It lias been feared that keeping the tree in such a 

 small space will induce such vigorous growth as to pre- 

 vent fruitfulness ; but this vigor being in proportion to 

 the extent of surface of the soil to which the roots have 

 access, and these being only eighteen inches apart, this 

 fear must be groundless. 



" It has also been suggested that trees so near one an- 

 other could not live; but as the stem and branches of the 

 trees are to correspond with the extent of soil accessible 

 to the roots, there can be no force in this objection. 



