138 FEUIT CULTURE. 



suitable for plums or cherries, but apples and peai'S do 

 remarkably well, and are very picturesque. 



Wire Arcli. For this position the trees should be 

 planted two feet apart on the outside of the wires. Tie 

 them upright to the wires, and train them straight over 

 the top until they meet. Both apples and pears fruit re- 

 markably Avell when trained on wire arches, spanning 

 kitchen garden or other paths, and when in fruit they 

 have a most pleasing effect, as seen in the frontispiece. 

 They admit sufficient sun to perfect the fruit, and at the 

 same time form a pleasant shade to the paths. 



For horizontal training, as an edging to beds, borders, 

 etc., strain a wire to the required height, about fifteen 

 inches from the ground. Plant the trees from six to eight 

 feet apart, and carefully bend the trees down and te to 

 the wire, allowing them to follow each other in the same 

 direction. 



Cordons may also be trained horizontally to fill up 

 spaces on low walls or fences, such as the space below the 

 lights of a greenhouse, etc. 



Pruning and Treatment. If the trees are properly 

 planted and tied according to foregoing instructions, the 

 subsequent management is extremely simple, provided 

 that the trees are in proper condition when planted ; but 

 this is of the first importance. Apples should be worked 

 on the paradise stock, and pears on the quince, to ensure 

 early fruitfulness, and as a safeguard against the produc- 

 tion of wood instead of fruit in the f uture. It is also 

 important that the trees should be furnished with fruit- 

 spurs and buds from the base upwards when planted. 

 If the trees can be brought into fruit the first or second 

 year after planting, there is but little trouble in continu- 

 ing to fruit them. 



