PIOTOBIAL PBAOTIOAL PBUIT GBOWINO. 



Cbapter II.— CK Best Forms of tm. 



In pursuance of our determination to make the most of limited space, and 

 to have a long supply of splendid fruit even if the garden be small, let us 

 glance at the various forms of fruit tree that may be called into requisition. 



The skilled trainer in the nursery takes a fruit stock in summer, in- 

 serts an Apple, or Pear, or Plum bud in the main stem of it, very much as 

 a rosarian puts buds in the shoots of a standard Brier, and the following 

 spring cuts off the head of the stock, leaving only a stump to support the 

 shoot into which the bud is fast developing. In the autumn he removes 

 the stump, leaving the Apple, or Pear, or Plum in complete possession. 



By the time another year has passed the young fruit tree has been 

 headed hard back, and has pushed a number of side shoots, which the 

 aforesaid trainer proceeds to work into various shapes. From the " maiden " 

 tree evolved by the budding process he will make you a bush, a pyramid, a 

 cordon, an espalier, a palmette verrier, a fan, a " gridiron," or any other of 

 the many shapes into which fruit trees are trained. 



Digressing for a moment, it may be well to answer an imaginary ques- 

 tion as to whether the average amateur fruit grower can cultivate and bud 

 his own fruit stocks. He can, certainly; but I do not think he would find 

 it economical. The various stocks employed, such as Paradise (different 

 sorts) for Apples, Quince for Pears, Mussel and Brompton for Plums, 

 Mahaleb for Cherries, and so forth, are not in retail commerce. It is easy 

 to get them in thousands for trade purposes, but not so easy to procure 

 them ill dozens for private gardens. Moreover, fruit trees are now so cheap 

 that if the time devoted to cultivating and budding stocks in the home 

 garden is taken into account, as it ought to be in order to arrive at a proper 

 basis of calculation, nothing whatever is saved by doing the work privately. 



Another question ; Does it pay to raise fruit trees from seed or cuttings ? 

 At the risk of conveying disappointment to the large number of gardening 

 novices who love to save pips from the Apples which they eat, sow them, 

 and then worry experts for opinions on the merit of the resulting fruit (if 

 any ever does result), I must express an opinion that seedling fruit culture 

 is a delusion and a snare. I have bad hundreds of fruits submitted to me 

 by proud raisers, but I have never yet seen a promising novelty ; and my 

 diplomatic resources have been taxed to the utmost in order to soften the 

 blow of an adverse opinion. The seedlings may be used for grafting with 

 reliable sorts, but, of course, the average novice is not satisfied with that. 

 He wanted to raise something that would put Lane's Prince Albert Apple, 

 or Cox's Orange Pippin, into the shade, and he is an injured and a dis- 

 appointed man. As for raising fruit trees from cuttings — well! it you want 

 to amuse yourself for several years by watching trees grow and grow, 

 and produce little or nothing except magnificent crops of leaves, go in for 

 the cuttings system ; if you want a quick crop of fine fruit, leave the amuse- 

 ment to your neighbour. You will be able to make him presents of large, 

 richly coloured fruit, and he will be able to return the compliment with 

 beautiful branches. 



Reverting to the different forms of fruit trees, we have bushes, pyramids, 

 and standards for open quarters ; and cordons, espaliers, fans, etc., for walls, 

 fences, and wire supports. 



