48 FRUIT GARDEN. 



are called dwarf s^ from their being grafted near the 

 ground. Between each of these, trees with tall stems, 

 called riders in Scotland, are planted as temporary oc- 

 cupants of the upper part of the wall. The riders 

 should always be five or six years trained in the nur- 

 sery, in order that when they are planted out they may 

 come into bearing as speedily as possible. The dis- 

 tance at which the permanent trees are planted is to be 

 regulated by the known mode of growth of the different 

 sorts, and by the height of the wall. When the walls 

 are about twelve feet high, the following average dis- 

 tances have been recommended: — For vines, 10 or 12 

 feet; peach and nectarine-trees, from 15 to 20 feet; 

 fig-trees, 20 feet at least; apricots, from 15 to 24 feet; 

 plums and cherries, from 15 to 20 feet ; pear-trees, 20 

 feet if on quince stocks, and 30 feet when on free stocks; 

 apple-trees, 12 feet if on paradise stocks, and 15 to 25 

 feet when on free stocks. Where the walls are only 

 seven or eight feet high, the distance should be increased 

 by nearly one-fourth, as in this case the want of height 

 must be compensated by greater breadth. 



Apples and pears make the best espalier rail-trees, 

 especially in Scotland. These should be of the more 

 robust sorts, and should be planted at the distance of 

 15 or 20 feet. Cherries and plums are sometimes in- 

 troduced into the espalier-rail row, but these succeed in 

 those situations only where they would do equally well 

 or better as standards. 



In many excellent gardens, dwarf standards are pre- 

 ferred to espalier rail-trees. They are placed along the 

 inner borders at 8 or 10 feet apart. When proper at- 

 tention is paid to such trees, the effect is very pleasing, 

 each being in itself a handsome object, and generally 



