FORMATION OF DIAGONAL CORDON. 43 



roofed houses are handsomer, and, when very 

 large, extremely beautiful. In this case other 

 kinds of Cordons are more suitable, such as 

 vertical, with pyramidal bases, which will be 

 described presently. 



The formation of a Diagonal Cordon with 

 three leaders is thus commenced. Straight, 

 well-grown trees, one year old from the graft, 

 are selected. These trees are planted in the 

 open ground in October, November, or Decem- 

 ber, but the earlier the better, and in the 

 Orchard-house, at any time during the winter, 

 except in frosty weather. They are laid at an 

 angle of 65 degrees against the wall, in either 

 case at an interval of 36 inches from one 

 another. One third of the top of each tree 

 may be removed ; but there is no objection to 

 the whole row being cut to an equal height, 

 unless in the case of particular trees. A healthy 

 front bud is chosen, in every case, to cut down 

 to; therefore when I said equalise them, of 

 course it is far better to regulate their height 

 by the bud you cut down to ; because you must 

 have a healthy leaf-bud, and below it must be 

 no blank spaces where there can be no shoots. 



If blank spaces occur, then reject that tree 

 or it will cause you trouble ; but if you choose 

 to retain it, either because of the sort, or be- 

 cause you fancy it, then cut down well to a 

 good bud, no matter how high or how low you 



