APP 



[05] 



APP 



ones, until it has reached the. height of 

 five feet. It is then cut off, and no more 

 allowed to gro\v upright, the whole 

 strength of the tree being directed to the 

 fruiting branches. 



Espalier Apple-trees should be planted 

 at not less than twenty feet distance ; but 

 five-and-thirty feet is better, especially 

 for trees grafted on Crab or Apple-stocks, 

 which are free growers. For trees grafted 

 on Codling or Paradise stocks, eighteen 

 or twenty feet may be a sufficient distance. 

 They should be planted with their heads 

 entire, only removing any very irregular 

 growths that do not range consistent with 

 the intended form, and pruning any 

 broken roots ; as, also, the points of im- 

 mature wood. Let all the branches be 

 trained horizontally to the right and left, 

 an equal number on each side, all at full 

 length, five or six inches asunder ; and, 

 according as they shoot in summer, still 

 continue them along entire. At the same 

 time, train in a further supply of new 

 shoots, to increase the number of hori- 

 zontals, or bearers ; and thus continue in- 

 creasing their numbers every year, till 

 the espalier is regularly filled from the 

 bottom to the top, preserving all the 

 branches at full length, as far as the al- 

 lotted space will admit. 



They must have a summer and a win- 

 ter pruning annually. In the summer, cut 

 out all the superfluous and ill-placed 

 .shoots of the year, and train regular 

 ones towards the lower parts in vacant 

 spaces, at least to remain till winter, some 

 of which may then be wanted to fill 

 some unforeseen vacancy, clearing out all 

 others at this time as close as possible ; 

 and in winter, if any worn-out or de- 

 cayed parts appear, then is the time to 

 retrench them, retaining young branches 

 in their places, and if any vacancy oc- 

 curs, retain some contiguous young 

 shoot to fill it. Cut clean and close to 

 the branches, still continuing all the 

 branches, and any occasional supply of 

 shoots, at full length, as far as their li- 

 mited bounds will allow ; then train the 

 whole regularly, tying them in as straight 

 and close to the railing as possible, about 

 six inches asunder. 



Standards, Half-Standards, and Dwarfs 

 The standards having been trained in 

 the nursery, with tolerably good heads, 

 they should be planted with those heads 

 nearly entire, merely pruning away late 

 growths, and occasionally shortening, to 



produce new shoots when desirable. If 

 ny are intended for the kitchen-garden, 

 plant them, at least, forty feet distance; 

 and, for a full plantation, to form an 

 orchard, allow thirty feet distance every 

 way. _ 



Trim any broken or tap-roots, but leave 

 all the others entire. 



As soon as planted, let every one be 

 well staked, to support them firmly up- 

 right, and prevent their being disturbed 

 n rooting by winds. 



Smaller - growing standards, such as 

 Codlings and dwarfs upon Paradise stocks, 

 nay, if required, be planted only at 

 wenty feet distance, or even less, though, 

 f there is room to allow a greater dis- 

 ,ance, it will be the greater advantage. 



Let them also, in future, advance with 



all their branches at full length, taking 



heir own natural growth, and they will 



soon form numerous natural spurs in 



very part for bearing. 



With respect to pruning these stand- 

 ards, very little is required, probably not 

 more than once in three years, and then 

 only the retrenching any very irregular, 

 cross-placed bough, or reducing to order 

 any very long rambler ; or, when the head 

 .s become greatly crowded and confused, 

 to thin out some of the most irregular, 

 growth, likewise all strong shoots grow- 

 ng upright in the middle of the head, and 

 all dead wood and suckers from the stem 

 and root. See PRUNING, also STATION. 



Manuring old Apple-trees. We gene- 

 rally see fruitful old trees starving by 

 inches ; few think of manuring them. The 

 consequence is, not only premature decay 

 in the tree, but a continual sacrifice in 

 produce; and if there be a full crop, the 

 apples either crack, or become corroded 

 with a rusty fungus, under which circum- 

 stances they will lose, in a great degree, 

 their keeping properties. The best way 

 to deal with such cases is to strip away, 

 at the end of October, six inches of the 

 surface-soil, and to apply a coating of the 

 very slutch of the manure-yard, three or 

 four inches in thickness ; after which, the 

 turf or some soil may be strewed over, to 

 prevent the loss of its fertile properties. 

 This, once in three years, accompanied 

 by a rather severe thinning or pruning, 

 will be found to renew the constitution of 

 the tree in a very considerable degree; 

 the fruit, also, will regain their size, their 

 clear skin, and, of course, their keeping 

 properties. 



