22 CORDON TRAINING. 



amazing rapidity, and if suited for our climate would super- 

 sede all others. The triple cordon I have never seen but in 

 my own gardens ; with laterals in the old system it would not 

 advance fast enough, which is one important condition in its 

 use. A quadruple cordon would take so much time to com- 

 plete as to make it less desirable ; it might, however, suit very 

 moist localities better. With spurs, as now recommended, 

 the triple cordon unites most of the conditions required for 

 success. It covers the wall rapidly, and bears well and regu- 

 larly : nothing better can be said in its favor. Its form is 

 also so regularly beautiful, that even casual observers must 

 be struck with the harmony and grace of the whole tree. No 

 gentleman likes to have his valuable walls covered with trees 

 as unproductive as they are ungainly ; but any one who has 

 seen a well-managed cordon on the diagonal plan, will not 

 fail to give it the palm as to beauty. 



By means of light guiding rods tlie young wood creeps as 

 straight as a walking stick, upwards, and on this depends 

 much of the handsome appearance of the trees. So that 

 were a wall of these trees drawn, each of them ascending 

 with mathematical regularity, it would not be exaggerated : 

 a moderate amount of skill and patience would easily effect 

 it. The various forms of cordon training remain to be no- 

 ticed. They are the diagonal, the best suited for a wall ; for 

 in-door or out-door culture it sliould always have three leaders. 

 The vertical, useful for trees trained against the pillars of the 

 orchard-house, where they bear admirably ; they also answer 

 well if planted in the borders. If for walls in the open air, 

 then the number of leaders should not be less than five, or 

 there would be danger of the trees producing too much wood. 

 The spiral : round wires for trees in pots, or round the pillars 

 of the orchard house, where they have a pretty effect. It 

 will also suit large pear standards in the open ground, or in 

 the borders of the house. Lastly, the horizontal — i. e. all 

 fan-shaped, (palmetto of the French,) or laterally developed 

 trees ; all standard trees in the open ground or within the 

 house, and planted in the borders. 



