Chap. XX.] L'ECOLB REGIONALE DE LA SAULSAIE. 341 



he does not stop the leading shoots, except when one happens to be 

 weak. In all countries there is probably too much cutting in and 

 shortening back. As to the state of fruit-growing about here, it 

 is still much in want of improvement, though a considerable 

 advance has been made during the past generation. Thirty years 

 ago, a dozen Pears of good quality were sold here for eighteen- 

 pence— now worth one-third as much. This good result has 

 been brought about by popularising really good varieties. 



The Eegional School of Saulsaie. — There are many small 

 departmental schools established with a view to spread a know- 

 ledge of rural pursuits in France— this is one of a few establish- 

 ments with a more extended aim. It is situated in the department 

 of Ain, a couple of hours' journey from Lyons, and is principally 

 an extensive school of agriculture. Although Saulsaie is situate 

 much further south than Paris, there can be little doubt that 

 there are many parts of England far more favourable than it to 

 the production of fruit. The original specimens of the Palmette 

 Verrier are to be seen here, and very fine some of them are. A 

 marked superiority was observed in the Easter Beurre Pear grown 

 against walls and the same variety grown away from their shelter 

 and protection. Against walls, where the trees had been efficiently 

 protected in spring, the trees and fruit were in perfect condition. 

 This speaks for itself, and proves that it is to well-managed walls 

 we must mainly look for improvements in the culture of our finer 

 and tenderer fruits. Here the French actually find that walls 

 are not only a benefit but a necessity for some kinds of Pear. 



As the place is very much exposed to storms, peculiar ex- 

 pedients have been resorted to for securing the trees against 

 their influence. The practice of training trees with the branches 

 crossed and intertwined by way of mutual support, was illustrated 

 here on a large scale, in the case of both Apples and Pears. Laths 

 and sticks are first used to train the trees into shape, and after 

 the trees have attained their full size, crossing and supporting 

 each other, the supports are removed or allowed to rot away. 

 There were many Apple and Pear trees trained on this principle, 

 and so well and firmly that there could be no doubt whatever that 

 it is perfectly practicable and good, and that the objections which 

 have been urged against it are entirely groundless. It has been 

 said that the branches would destroy each other by friction : there 



2 A 



