HORIZONTAL CORDONS. 41 



and take care of in every way. No strong-growing variety 

 should be planted either in pots or against pillars in the bor- 

 ders. Out of doors Vertical Cordons require very high walls ; 

 they are then useful, but unless they have a large number of 

 upright leaders they are apt to grow too freely ; and for 

 peaches, there is really no necessity for adopting this form in 

 out-door culture.* 



CHAP. IX. 



HORIZONTAL CORDONS. 



Under this head, for practical purposes in Cordon training, 

 may be ranged all fan-shaped or " palmetto" trees on walls ; 

 all standard out of doors ; and bush trees in pots. Every 

 one knows how to commence the training of these, — how 

 twelve inches are to be left above the soil, and how fan-shaped 

 trees are to be thence carried out. In the case of wall trees, 

 light rods should always guide the young branches, and these 

 should never be brought toward the horizontal line, till well 

 established, otherwise, adieu to the symmetry of the tree, — 

 the lowest stage being too short. But if these trees are 

 trained horizontally, then let the branches be depressed year 

 by year from an angle of 75 to 65 degrees, then 45, and 

 lastly to about 30 degrees. Any approach to the perfect hor- 

 izontal line is useless, except in the case of two small branches 

 developed from the lowest stage to fill up the lower corners. 

 The Cordon system is equally applicable here, — i. e. that part 

 of it which relates to the management of the spurs and shoots. 



[* The Vertical and Spiral modes of training trees are admirably adapted to 

 pot culture, and amateurs who are growing fruit trees in this way will be well 

 repaid for their labor, in the superior beauty of vertical or spiral trees, compared 

 with the ordinary bush or no system plan. A little extra care is necessary in 

 the commencement, but their after treatment requires little more attention than 

 when grown without system. — c. m. h.] 



