FRUIT TREES. Chap. III. 53 



& to reflect the warmth of the sun onto their fruit to promote & improve their ripening. I 

 specify ripeness, not quality, because the flavor of bush tree fruit is preferable to that of 

 espalier trees, & the fruit of trees grown in the open is superior to that of all of the others. 

 The advantage of espaliers lies in more reliable production of fruit, those that are larger, 

 ripen earlier, & have better color. Every country has its own material for wall 

 construction. 1°. Here walls are made of pebbles & plaster debris cemented & covered 

 over with plaster. But old plaster absorbs a lot of moisture; it expands, swells, & cracks 

 the overlay of new plaster and provides a haven for insects. These walls may be cheap, 

 but they offer neither good quality nor lasting service. 2°. Elsewhere, soft ashlars are 

 used, but rough plaster coating gives the same effect. The only advantage these walls 

 have over the others is that they last a little longer. 3°. Very good walls are made from 

 hard ashlar, millstone, even sandstone (though it holds rough plaster & coating poorly), 

 as long as the mortar is not of lime & cement, & any kind of hard stone with plaster or 

 with mortar of lime & sand, or even free soil. The visible stones first are rough coated 

 with plaster, or preferably with mortar of lime and coarse sand. Eight to fifteen days later, 

 when the coating is thoroughly dry, it's coated again lightly with the same material. 4°. 

 Walls of well baked & well conditioned bricks are the best and the most durable. Some of 

 these now are beginning to appear in France; those who've spent the money for them 

 haven't regretted it. 



In locations where these materials are entirely lacking, putting up espaliers 

 needn't be a problem. 5°. Some construct walls made out of pebbles held together with 

 pugging mortar. This is a kind of mortar made of rich earth, straw, & chopped hay. When 

 the walls are thoroughly coped & coated with mortar of lime 



