VARIOUS CORDONS. 33 



fruitful, what can be desired more ? What is 

 shown in the Frontispiece is a representation of 

 one kind of Cordon, and that the very best, 

 the " diagonal," with three leaders on each tree. 

 The trees are planted in the ground at thirty-six 

 inches from their neighbours to right and left, / 

 there being thus twelve inches of interval between 

 each leader. In France the single cordon, with 

 laterals of fourteen inches, succeeds well, but it 

 would fail in England. The double cordon is .1 

 better adapted ; these two forms clothe a wall with( 

 amazing rapidity, and if suited for our climate \ 

 would supersede all others. The triple cordon * 

 I have never seen but in my own gardens ; with 

 laterals in the old system it would not advance 

 fast enough, which is one important condition in 

 its use. A quadruple cordon would take so 

 much time to complete as to make it less desir- 

 able ; it might, however, suit very moist localities 

 better. With spurs, as now recommended, the 

 triple cordon unites most of the conditions re- 

 quired for success. It covers the wall rapidly, 

 and bears well and regularly : nothing better can 

 be said in its favour. Its form is also so regu- 

 larly beautiful, that even casual observers must 

 be struck with the harmony and grace of the 

 whole tree. No gentleman likes to have his 

 valuable walls covered with trees as unproductive 

 as they are ungainly ; but any one who has seen 



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