Chap. XVIII.] THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FEDIT-GEOWING 295 



Should we in time find varieties of our other hardy fruits conform 

 as readily to the cordon system as the Apple on the Paradise, this 

 way of coTering borders as well as walls with fruit-trees will prove 

 a gain in the culture of our choice hardy fruits, the importance of 

 which it would he difficult to over-estimate. 



Care being taken to protect the borders and walls efficiently 

 from the time of flowering till the fruit is beyond all danger, they 

 may be afterwards exposed to the refreshing summer rains, and then 

 there will be an end to all but mere routine work till the protect- 

 ing season comes again. Every hundred feet in length of such 

 well-protected wall and border would be equivalent to a well- 

 managed orchard-house. 



SimJ>le -wooden support Jar Cordon, the wire 

 attached to a stone in the ground. 



Iron support let into stone. 



Iron support, 'with ratchet wheel at 

 the top. 



Although the cordon is so simply supported, it is desirable to 

 know the best means of doing so in a permanent and ready way. 

 The simplest way of all is to drive a toiigh wooden post in the 

 ground to the required height, and attach the wire to it. The 

 post may be driven in obliquely, or upright; or an iron support 

 with a stay let into a block of rough stone would be as satisfactory 

 as any other, because permanent. A variety of good supports are 

 now offered by houses who erect espalier trellises. 



The Peak as a Cobdon.— When at Holme Lacy in Hereford- 

 shire, a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to see a wall 

 covered with Pear-trees, trained as single cordons, and in the 

 finest bearing condition. I learnt from Sir H. Scudamore 



X 2 



