HOW TO SUPPLY BLANK SPACES IN CORDONS. 63 



conditions, and if once they get into the habit of thns extend- 

 ing, it is surprising how ditlticult it is to keep them under in 

 pots. 



But witli ordinary skill, and the attention required to the 

 common things of life, there need be no apprehension enter- 

 tained of failure in pot ciiltivation of fruit trees. There is an 

 annual crop of feeding roots from above, and one from be- 

 low, and if unpruned, these last would descend into the bor- 

 der, and thence draw too potent nourishment. Lifting the 

 trees in June and in July prevents all this. If the trees be 

 in borders, then annual removal (which is less severe, what- 

 ever may be said, than biennial,) has the same effect. The 

 roots are kept compact, and a healthy development of spongi- 

 oles induced close to the root stem. 



criAP. XV. 



HOW TO SUPPLY BLANK SPACES IN CORDONS. 



It will occasionally happen that, in spite of every care, 

 blank spaces will appear on the leaders of the various kinds of 

 Cordons. These occasion the only disfigurement possible in 

 the whole system, unless in the case of severe blight out of 

 doors, which calamity is common to all kinds of training, 

 and, therefore, requires a remedy, which is, fortunately, sim- 

 ple and efficacious. Wherever, then, a whole spur has died 

 off, or been destroyed by accident, one of the shoots of the 

 spur immediately below this spot should be allowed to grow 

 to twelve or fifteen inches in length. It will do so by mid- 

 summer, or at least by the beginning of August, during 

 which period is the proper time for applying it to fill up the 

 vacant space. 



It is done thus. See that this shoot fit flatly and neatly to 

 the spot on which it is desirable it should ultimately grow, 



