

, 



10 CORDON TRAINING. 



respectable nursery is invaluable, and may also 

 be a great subject of amusement. 



One hint more. In selecting the trees, let no 

 one be influenced by the mere price, for it is of 

 the greatest importance to have well grown and 

 healthy trees to begin your experiments upon, 

 and to avoid discouragement in the outset. 



The selection then being made, the amateur 

 should remember, that the natural tendency of 

 the sap is to flow upwards and towards the ex- 

 tremities of the branches, so that without due 

 care, especially at the commencement, the centre 

 of the tree, and the lowest branches (in the case 

 of those on walls) become less vigorously stimu- 

 lated, and are thus dwarfed in comparison with 

 those higher up. This will cause an unequal 

 distribution of fertility, and quickly destroy all 

 the harmony and symmetry of the tree. The 

 leaves, according to their number and healthy 

 state, draw up and attract the sap. Therefore 

 a branch, once enfeebled, has by its very want of 

 power, an increased chance of decay. We must, 

 therefore, endeavour to avoid this feebleness. 



Again, by this irregular distribution of strength, 

 the whole tree is disturbed, and eventually ruined. 

 For when in this diseased condition it receives 

 any shock, as by an attack of blight (perhaps by 

 two or three successive attacks) ; by injury to its 

 roots from any cause ; by any of its branches 

 breaking in a gale of wind ; the first irregularity 



