40 CORDON TRAINING. 



these must all be pinched as soon as six leaves long, to three 

 leaves, then to two leaves, and then to one leaf ; but in the 

 lowest stages it is necessary to allow one leaf more at each 

 pinching, until that part has a predominance over the rest ; 

 in other words, until it has a pyramidal form. Therefore, 

 the lowest spurs all round should be well encouraged, and if 

 disposed to become fruitful, then left as long as possible — i. e. 

 hardly pinched at all, and the whole tree kept to the pyrami- 

 dal form altogether. If the lowest shoots grow freely so 

 much the better ; merely pinch them back, according to their 

 vigor, and if laterals grow on these, pinch these to two buds 

 each. The object in view is to obtain a fruitful pyramid in a 

 vertical position, and the pinching is only to obtain this ; but 

 as the top grows very freely, it must also be kept under, and 

 occasionally pinched back, according to the vigor of the tree. 

 In this case the amateur will soon know how to proceed. If 

 the Vertical Cordon, however, be destined as a reserve for 

 banks in the Diagonal Cordons (and this must be kept in 

 view), then pinch all the shoots pretty equally; but if the 

 lower ones are inclined to become single shoots, then this 

 must not be allowed to be. Endeavor to have these reserve 

 trees regularly supplied with spurs, and two shoots on each ; 

 and if a tree obstinately refuse to come to this shapCj it had 

 better be rejected as time and patience wasted. 



The vertical pyramids must not exceed the diameter of the 

 pot they are to fill (generally a thirteen-inch pot), at their 

 base. 



If you plant the Vertical Cordon against pillars in the 

 orchard-house, it need not be pyramidal of course, and this 

 is another use for the potted vertical cordons to supply. 

 Against pillars, with their ends trained up to the rafters or 

 sideways, my own trees are splendid, and they are an amusing 

 variety because you may develop a second stem before and 

 another behind each pillar, and the fruit on the part near the 

 glass will be very fine. These trees will require removal, 

 probably annually, as they grow, to check undue luxuriance. 

 A few ties are all that is required, and they are easy to syringe 



