48 THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN 



men growing here (single cordon pear trees require the 

 same culture), and will, perhaps, give the reader a 

 correct idea of the adaptability of these compact trees 

 for small gardens ; they may be planted two feet ajjart. 



DIAGONAL SINGLE CORDONS 



'The diagonal single cordon is the most simple of all 

 the methods supported by various writers on training. 

 It consists merely of planting a dwarf tree with one 

 shoot about 18 to 20 inches apart at an angle of 45° 

 (fig. 11). The first year after planting, the side shoots 

 should be pinched in June to five leaves, and pruned 

 again in October to three buds from the base. This 

 pruning includes the second growth from the first 

 pruning. If the tree, as it often does, produces bloom 

 spurs, do not prune them, as the tree will not be 

 injured by precocity in fruiting. The third and fourth 

 years will require the same treatment — ^that is, pinch in 

 June and then- refrain from any other pruning until 

 October ; the trees will look a little ragged and untidy, 

 but this will be remedied by the late pruning. Diagonal 

 cordons of pears, plums, cherries, apples, and apricots 

 may be cultivated with success when trained against 

 walls with south-west and all other aspects, except 

 north or north-east. 



There is perhaps no wall-fruit tree so likely to be 



