294 



THE PAEKS AND GARDENS OP PARIS. [Chap. XVIII. 



the cause of our failures in fruit crops. Hitherto the best course 

 to pursue with the borders along our fruit-walls has always been 

 a disputed point : some contending that they ought not to be 

 cropped at all ; others that salads and small vegetables might be 

 grown upon them. 



Jjet us crop the borders with trees trained on the horizontal- 

 cordon principle as suggested in the accompanying figures, and in 

 this way dispose of the much -debated question as to what is best 

 to do with the fruit-borders. By so doing we should collect such 

 a valuable stock of fruit-trees immediately in front of each wall 

 as would render it convenient and desirable to protect efficiently 

 both walls and borders, and by the same means. The low cordons 

 will no more shade the wall than a crop of small salading and 



will prevent all need 

 for disturbing the 

 border. Indeed, lean 

 conceive no greater 

 improvement in our 

 fruit-culture than de- 

 voting to fruit-trees 

 those excellent sunny 

 borders that usually 

 lie at the foot of our 

 fruit-walls. By this 

 plan we should, it is 

 true, sacrifice some of the more suitable spots for early vegetables 

 and salads, but we should gain very much more, and the change 

 would be in every way conducive to the beauty and utility of 

 our gardens. When the wall-trees are being attended to the 

 cordons cannot be forgotten, and the whole will be under the eye 

 at a glance. ' 



The Pear may also be grown thus in the highest perfection, and 

 there can be no doubt that the fruit which may be grown in this 

 way 6n the border would, if put to the market test, more than pay 

 for the expense of protecting cordons and wall-trees at the same 

 time Other fruits will probably be found to submit to this mode 

 of culture as well as these, and all kinds should be tried by those 

 with opportunities for making experiments in fruit-culture, ihose 

 kinds of a fertile and compact habit being selected for trial 



Narrozv border in 

 front of fruit- 

 zvall, with two 

 lines of horizontal 

 cordons, protected 

 in Spring hy •wide 

 temporary coping 

 and rough canvas. 



Peach wall and border, -with five lines oj 

 cordons, the whole protected in Spring. 



