MANAGEMENT OP THE CENTRE. 17 



very large sums are yearly spent even by persons of limited 

 incomes, on their fruits and flowers. But the results are 

 really disproportionate. How seldom is a well-kept garden 

 to be seen. How seldom does the proprietor know the reason 

 of his numerous failures. 



Tliis little work is offered therefore in the simple hope of 

 helping some such person, who, having less leisure, cannot do 

 as I have done, follow up my own trees, year after year, note- 

 book in hand. My experience on this account cannot be val- 

 ueless to him, and I have therefore freely given it. 



One grand defect which is observable in the general treat- 

 ment of fruit trees is, that very little difference is made in 

 the care bestowed on the various kinds. 



The dormant buds, which are the hopes of ensuing seasons, 

 are treated on similar principles, the consequence of which is, 

 that the centre of the tree is denuded of fruit, and an appear- 

 ance of age is, by this means, induced, long before the tree 

 has reached the period of decadence. As the sap ascends 

 far more powerfully in the main channels than in the more 

 distant and feebler portions, one would suppose that this 

 would be a guiding principle in the treatment of the whole 

 tree. But, instead of this, what do we generally see ? In a 

 few years, by unskilful pruning, the whole of the centre of 

 the wall-trees and the interior parts of standards, are without 

 fruit. It now abounds at the extremities of the branches ; 

 and, year after year, retires further and further from the 

 centre of all. Large bare spaces are visible on every tree. 

 Invaluable south walls are profitless ; and there is no remedy 

 but to cut back the unhappy tree. 



But, independently of the disfigurement of the garden 

 wall, and the serious loss of time, this cutting back is an ab- 

 surd and unnecessary plan. In the case of the peach, it 

 hardly ever succeeds at all ; especially if done in the winter, 

 as is generally the case. Any method which should obviate 

 this precessity must be useful, and, undoubtedly, " Cordon 

 training" does this, as will be shown. 

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