38 



TRAINING. 



Fig. 18, Fan-training, first 

 stage. 



The two best modes of training for this country, on walls or 

 espaliers, are fan-training, and horizontal training. The first 

 is the simplest and easiest mode of training the Peach, the Apri- 

 cot, Nectarine, and Cherry ; and the latter is best adapted to 

 the Pear. In training to a wall, the branches are fastened in 

 their places by shreds of leather and nails ; and, as espaliers, 

 by tying them with slips of bass-matting to the rails of the trellis. 

 The following account of these two modes of training is so con- 

 cisely abridged from the practice of the best English gardens, 

 in the Suburban Horticulturist, that we cannot do better than 

 to place it before the reader. 



Fan-training in the common English manner. A maiden plant 

 (a tree but one year from the graft,) being planted " is to be 

 headed down to four buds or eyes, 

 placed in such a manner as to throw 

 out two shoots on each side, as shown 

 in Fig. 18. The following season the 

 two uppermost shoots are to be headed 

 down to three eyes, placed in such a 

 manner as to throw out one leading shoot, and one shoot on each 

 side ; the two lowermost shoots are to be headed down to two 

 eyes, so as to throw out one lead- 

 ing shoot, and one shoot on the 

 uppemiost side as shown in Fig. 

 19. We have now five leading 

 shoots on each side, well placed, 

 to form our future tree. Each 

 of these shoots must be placed in 

 the exact position in which it is 



to remain; and as it is these Fig. 19. Fan-training, second stage. 



shoots which are to form the future tree, none of them are to be 

 shortened. The tree should by no means be suffered to bear 

 any fruit this year. Each shoot must now be allowed to pro- 

 duce, besides the leading shoot at its extremity, two other shoots 

 on the uppermost side, one near to the bottom and one about 



midway up the stem ; 

 there must also be one 

 shoot on the under- 

 most side, placed 

 about midway be- 

 tween the other two. 

 All the other shoots 

 must be pinched off 

 in their infant state. 



Fig. 20. Fan-training Jhird stage. The tree will then, 



assume, at the end of thethird year, the appearance shown in Fig.20. 

 From this time it may be allowed to bear wliat crop of fruit the gar- 

 dener thinks it able to carry ; in determining which, he ought 



