APPLES. 345 



the espalier is intended to be trained, — one in the centre, 

 and two on each side, — at a foot distance from each other ; 

 training the centre shoot perpendicularly to the centre stake, 

 and the two side shoots horizontally to the four others : 

 these must be kept at their full length till the plant has been 

 established a year. If it then appears to be in a state of vi- 

 gour, cut back the three branches ; the two side ones to six 

 inches, and the centre one to nine or ten. When the young 

 shoots are produced from these, train the extreme or strong- 

 est ones from each of the side branches horizontally. The 

 centre shoot will have produced three shoots at least ; the 

 uppermost of which must be continued perpendicularly, and 

 the two next beneath trained horizontally, one on each side. 

 This will then form the espalier. This process must be con- 

 tinued from year to year till the tree has arrived at its in- 

 tended height, which is generally about five feet. 



If the centre shoot produces three others annually when 

 cut down to nine inches, it will require seven years to com- 

 plete the seven series of horizontal branches : but some- 

 times it happens that the centre shoot possesses sufficient 

 vigour to produce two series, or five branches, by shorten- 

 ing it to eighteen inches instead of nine ; if so, this advan- 

 tage may be seized. 



Should the tree, after having been planted a year, not 

 possess sufficient vigour to throw out three shoots from the 

 centre branch, all the three branches must be cut back to 

 two or three eyes, and a single shoot trained from each : the 

 year following proceed as directed at first : this will cause 

 a delay in forming the tree. 



After this, the horizontal shoots must be trained at length, 

 shortening the supernumerary ones so as to form natural 

 spurs, as directed for the open dwarfs : the spurs, also, must 

 be treated in the same manner. 



In training the espalier, it will of course have been found 

 necessary, after the second year, to increase the number, as 

 well as the size, of the stakes : they should be clean and 

 straight, regularly, placed, and supplied to the extent re- 

 quired by the tree. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



Trees intended for espaliers should be budded, or graft- 

 ed, on stocks that have a tendency to make them dwarf, and 



