78 CORDON TRAINING. 



here, that it leads the primer into it, do what he 

 will. 



Many objections, too, having little real force in 

 the case of the peach, have none whatever in the 

 case of the pear. 



It is a curious fact, that though the pear is con- 

 fessedly a most valuable fruit, and one so generally 

 cultivated, its real history is the least clearly 

 ascertained. There is a quaint tradition that the 

 Sabines planted the Kousselet pear, on what oc- 

 casion is not said. The loss of their wives and 

 daughters would hardly be a suitable time for 

 pear planting, unless it was intended to console 

 lost fair ones by reminiscences of home, and 

 " perry ; " for this ancient beverage is clearly al- 

 luded to by Pliny, who calls it "excellent." 

 From the Sabines we ascend through the dark 

 ages, unillumined by horticulture, to that period 

 when St, Martin, the good bithop of Tours, had 

 the honour of having a pear named the (( Bon 

 Chretien," as a reward for his virtues. This is 

 about all that is really known about the history 

 of this fruit. 



The pear accommodates itself to almost any 

 shape, and thus to describe and to practise Cor- 

 don training is equally simple. ' Choose, for a 

 Diagonal Cordon, young and straight trees, of 

 equal vigour, one year old from the graft, and, in 

 November or later, lay them in against the wall, 

 just as in peaches, at the same intervals, and 



