Chap. XVIIL] THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FRUIT-GROWING. 291 



years ago, and have proved very successful. The fruits attain a 

 considerable size, and the experiment promises so well that pre- 

 parations are being made to greatly extend it." It is improbable 

 that there should be so much difference in the behaviour of trees 

 separated by a few miles of sea ! In many continental districts 

 where frosts are quite as severe as here, the cordons escape yearly 

 without serious injury ; and besides, no form of tree is so easily 

 protected in spring, it being so very low. 



In conclusion, it may be urged in favour of these cordon Apple- 

 trees : 1. The fruit is larger and finer than that borne on any 

 large form of tree. 2. The tree comes into bearing much earlier 

 — in fact, often bears freely the second summer after being grafted. 

 3. The growth is dwarfer and much more compact than that of 

 the apple on any other stock, 

 and the tree may, without 

 root-pruning, be kept in a 

 more compact and fruitful 

 form than apples on the 

 Crab may be with that 



,11 j_i_ j_' A Simple Mode of protecting Cordon Apple-trees in 



troublesome attention. 4. m. JaminS Garden at Bourg-la-Reine. 



The fruit being held at an 



average of one foot from the ground is in consequence benefited 

 by a greater degree of heat ; and from the compactness of the 

 form the leaves and wood enjoy a greater amount of sun than 

 is the case with high trees : it need hardly be said that these 

 are great advantages. 5. The tree being confined to a single 

 stem, and stubby fruit-spurs held near the surface of the ground, 

 there is in consequence no injury to the fruit from wind 

 or the swaying about of branches ; besides, the fruit, if it does 

 fall, is not injured. 6. The trees may be more readily protected 

 than any other form whatever, should protection be considered 

 necessary. 7. They may be more easily attended to in pinching, 

 pruning, and thinning the fruit, and the desired shape attained 

 more readily than any other form of trained tree. 8. Being little 

 taller than a neglected Box edging, they shade no garden-crop. 

 9. They take up but small space, and the positions best suited to 

 them are those that hitherto have been made no use of. 10. The 

 apple on the French Paradise grows to its highest perfection on 

 stiff loamy and wet and clayey soils, those which are often most 



