432 



THE PAEKS AND GAEDENS OP PAEIS. [Chap. XXIV. 



far thriven exceedingly well, their branches already reaching up so as to form a 

 third and fonrth sta?e, and in the sprins of 1868 the majority of them blossomed. 

 They are placed seven feet apart, and trained on a fence of posts, thin horizontal 

 iron bars, and cross rails, the posts being five feet in height by three inches or 

 four inches in diameter, and the wooden rails one inch broad by two-fifths of an 

 inch in thiclmess. The fence costs about threepence the running foot, and the 

 wear and tear is estimated at one penny. When iron wire is used— and old 

 telegraph wires come in most usefully for the purpose— it may be attached every 

 ten feet to a four feet high oaken post, the lowest wire being one foot and a 

 half, the second two feet and three quarters, and the third nearly four feet above 

 the ground. One tree may be planted close to a post, and one midway between 

 post and post— the trees will in that case be five feet ajiart ; and if the plan of 

 altei'nating a horizontal espalier with the columnar pyramidal form be adopted, 

 the fence will in a few years assume the appearance indicated by the accompany- 

 ing sketch. 



If preferred, smaller intermediate posts may be used as supports for the 



Fruit-trees alo?tg Railway. 



espalier trees, and to facilitate training of the branches, the wires extending 

 from them to the large posts may be made to slope upwards. As regards the 

 method of training and managing a horizontal espalier fence, the following details 

 may be of service : — A strong, well-rooted Pear or Apple tree, one year from the 

 graft, is planted without being cut, at the place intended for it in the row, and 

 about the middle of the ensuing May, when the sap is in full movement, is bent 

 down and fastened in a horizontal position to the lowest wire. To encourage the 

 putting forth of fruitful side-shoots along its whole length, incisions are made 

 before all the dormant eyes, while too-vigorous shoots are pinched in. A good 

 even growth of fruit-wood will shortly be the result. Owing to the accumula- 

 tion of sap at the point where the young tree is tied down, the shoot there 

 thrown out will be stronger than any of the others ; it must be allowed to grow 

 freely, and be attached in an almost upright direction. In the following year it 

 will require to be bent down and fastened in the opposite direction to the stem from 

 which it sprang, and it then forms the second arm of the treo. To form the 



