Chap. XX.] 



BEUNOY. 



337 



of the wall-space is devoted to oUique cordons of the Easter 

 Beurre, and these were in excellent bearing; they had been 

 planted six years, were about twelve feet long, and bore from ten 

 to fifteen fruit each. Planted twenty inches apart, and confined 

 to one stem, which is never cut back at the point if the wood be 

 ripe, they soon cover the wall, and as the good fruit of this variety 

 commands a high price, a quick return is afforded. In several 

 small walled gardens made in connection with the chief one of 

 M. Nallet, the greater portion of the wall-surface is devoted to 

 Easter Beurre. 



The practice of grafting by approach the branches of the Pear- 

 trees is extensively employed here. The figures will better 

 explain the mode of training and the 

 aspect of the trees in the garden than any 

 description. I am much indebted to M. 

 Nallet for his kindness in sending me 

 accurate sketches of some of his most 

 remarkable trees. 



A distinct and apparently useful form 

 of tree I met with here for the first time. 

 It is called the balloon form, and is made 

 by taking eight branches from the base 

 of the tree, and bringing them outside a 

 circular hoop, allowing one main stem to 

 ascend erect. The branches, after grow- 

 ing a little above the hoop, which gives 

 a desirable uniformity to the base, ascend 

 at regular intervals to the top, where 

 they are neatly united to the erect shoot. The figures will 

 explain this form, but the stake has been made much too 

 large by the engraver. It should be of iron. This figure is in 

 other respects a good representation of a handsome specimen 

 in M. Nallet's garden. Each branch being kept distinct, and 

 the tree being well opened up by this system, the result was 

 very good. A specimen of the Duchesse d'Angouleme trained 

 thus was one of the handsomest-looking trees I have ever seen. 

 The method has more advantages than would appear at first sight 



the long fruiting-branches being thoroughly exposed to the 



sun and light from bottom to top, the branches being held 



Pear-tree traified in the Balloon 

 fornif ten feet high. 



