268 PRUNING. 



The form described above is one of the simplest of all 

 espaliers, except the horizontal, described in treating of 

 the apple and the pear; but whoever can train a tree in 

 this manner well, can do it in all others, for the principles 

 of growth are the same always ; and he who understands 

 these, can mould his trees at pleasure, provided he can be- 

 stow the necessary labor. The peach may be grown in 

 any or all the espalier forms, and may thus be easily pro- 

 tected by means of straw-mats, or evergreen branches. 



Laying in, and fastening the trees to walls and trel- 

 lises. When trees are trained to a wall or fence, the 

 branches are fastened in the desired position by means of 

 shreds of cloth list, or strips of India-rubber half an inch 

 wide, and from two to three inches long, according to the 

 size of the branch to be laid in.- Very small nails are 

 necessary to train on boards, but larger ones on a brick and 

 stone wall. On a wire trellis, strings of bass matting are 

 used instead of nails and cloth; and in fastening to sim- 

 ple rails, small willows may be used. The principle to be 

 observed, in laying in and fastening the branches and 

 shoots of espalier trees, is that strong shoots must be laid 

 in sooner than weak ones, and also more inclined from the 

 vertical direction. A great deal may be done towards 

 maintaining uniformity of growth in the different parts 

 of a trained tree, by laying in the branches in a judicious 

 and discriminating manner. 



SECTION 5. PRUNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PLUM. 



The plum bears its fruit on spurs produced on wood 

 two years old and upwards, like the cherry (see Fruit 

 Branches). On young trees these spurs are several years 

 in the process of formation ; but when they commence to 

 bear they endure, if well managed, for many years. They 

 are generally furnished with wood buds on their lower 

 parts ; and when they begin to grow feeble, they ought 



