28 COKDON TRAINING. 



But lean-to houses are far warmer. Perhaps a unibn of 

 the two would be useful. Span-roofed houses are handsomer, 

 and, when very large, extremely beautiful. In this case other 

 kinds of Cordons are more suitable, such as vertical, with 

 pyramidal bases, which will be described presently. 



Tlie formation of a Diagonal Cordon witli tliree leaders is 

 thus commenced. Straight, well-grown trees, one year old 

 from the graft, are selected. These trees are planted in the 

 open ground in October, November, or December, but the 

 earlier the better, and in the orchard-house, at any time dur- 

 ing the winter, except in frosty weather. They are laid at an 

 angle of 65 degrees against the wall, in either case at an in- 

 terval of 36 inches from one another. One third of the top 

 of each tree may be removed ; but tliere is no objection to 

 the whole row being cut to an equal height, unless in the 

 case of particular trees. A healthy front bud is chosen, in 

 every case, to cut down to; therefore when I said equalize 

 them, of course it is far better to regulate their height by the 

 bud you cut down to; because you must have a healthy 

 leaf-bud, and below it must be no blank spaces where there 

 can be no shoots. 



If blank spaces occur, then reject that tree or it will cause 

 you trouble ; but if you choose to retain it, either because of 

 the sort, or because you fancy it, then cut down well to a 

 good bud, no matter how high or how low you meet it. It 

 must be in front, because the wound is thus far less difficult 

 to liide. This is of great importance in Cordon training. If 

 you must cut to a side bud, then you have no very straight 

 stem after all the care bestowed on the rest. Tliere must be 

 no unhealtliy wood near the leading bud. How often, by 

 neglecting this simple rule, has the trouble of years been 

 wasted I Cut, sloping upwards at a gentle angle, till you get 

 to about an eighth of an inch above the bud. The trees are 

 then well tied to the wall; the young laterals are brought 

 forward on either side neatly, and the back shoots are gener- 

 ally cut in to one or two buds ; for if you cut them off there 

 will be no reserve to supply accident. Sharply cut back these 



