64 CORDON TRAINING. 



and having marked lightly the boundaries of the proposed ex- 

 cisions and incisions, which are to be If inches in length, 

 both on the shoot and on tlie leader : the succeeding process 

 resembles budding roses. For a cut la inches long being 

 made lengthwise through the bark of the leader, two more 

 transverse cuts are next made through the bark, one at either 

 end of the first cut. Take care not to cut too deeply, and do 

 not lacerate any part, or the place where the descending 

 fibres of the new roots are to be will be ruined. Carefully 

 then lift up the bark and make it thus ready, as in budding 

 roses, to receive the new shoot under tlie bark. This shoot, 

 having been marked where it is to meet the opened bark, 

 must be now operated upon. A slice is to be scooped out of 

 it, cleanly and neatly, If inches long, and the shoot must 

 then be neatly slipped into the orifice, and \inder the bark of 

 the leader. 



I must not omit liere to state that a bud must have been 

 managed to be left in the side of this shoot, which is just op- 

 posite to the sliced-out part, so that when it has been slipped 

 into its place under the bark, this bud shall appear protrud- 

 ing, exactly as in budding roses. Proceed then with white 

 worsted to bind carefully round all the parts operated on, 

 leaving' out the bud, and bind the shoot into the leader. By 

 this means you will exclude all the air. If neatly done it will 

 surely succeed. All which I did last year succeeded, and 

 were so firmly united tliat they bore fruit, but did not ripen it. 



In the ensuing spring, the ligatures being removed, the 

 shoot will be found united, inarched in fact, into the leader. 

 Then divide the shoot, just behind and under where it is 

 growing into the leader, leaving it there as a new spur, while 

 the remaining portion, still attached to the lower spur, is bent 

 back to its former position, and cut back to two buds, as re- 

 quired. Thus there is a new spur gained, without loss to 

 that from which it was supplied. In this way all blank spaces 

 • are readily filled up. Should, however, any one be desirous 

 of budding to fill up this blank, then let a triple bud be 

 selected; but it is, at best, a hazardous experiment, except 



