40 CORDON TRAINING. 



compete (by their vertical position), with the 

 growth of the leading extremities, the growth of 

 which it is sought by all means to encourage. 



The position of 45 degrees, to which it is 

 inclined as soon as the leading shoot has obtained 

 the proper pre-eminence and strength, and is thus 

 able to defend its rights the position of 45 

 degrees is the most favourable to obtain fruit and 

 wood above all inclinations at which any fruit tree 

 can be placed. Therefore, as soon as the leader 

 is strong and vigorous enough, the tree should be 

 lowered to this angle, and, by means of light 

 guiding rods, be made to ascend, at this angle, to 

 the top of the wall. From being tied lightly, at 

 every t\Vo or three inches, to the rod, it must grow 

 perfectly straight. 



The trees are planted at intervals of 36 inches 

 from stem to stem along the wall, as seen in the 

 Frontispiece, where they are all at the angle of 

 45 degrees, even the tree only in the first year ; 

 but this was unavoidable ; that is, the trees are 

 laid in at 3 feet from each other only. My own 

 trees are planted and trained at 30 inches of 

 interval, but this is too little 36 inches are 

 preferable. Each tree, in the Frontispiece, is 

 represented as having either three leaders fully 

 grown, or in the case of the tree of the first year, 

 it has dotted lines indicating the future position 

 of the other two leaders. In the tree of the 

 second year, the second leader has ascended half- 



