166 THE MINIATUEE EEUIT GAEDEN 



thp ground is ready for planting. The trench should, 

 if possible, be made a fortnight before planting, in 

 order that the soil may be thoroughly pulverised. If 

 there is any deficiency of lime in the soil, it is as well 

 to add lime rubbish or chalk. For horizontal double 

 cordons a trench is not necessary ; holes should be dug 

 about two feet in diameter, and the soU mixed with 

 good compost. The double-cordon trees should be from 

 twelve to fifteen feet apart ; the horizontal single cor- 

 dons six to eight feet. 



Fig. 24 represents a double horizontal cordon. This 

 may be made by cutting down a dwarf maiden tree to 

 within four or six buds of the base, the two topmost 

 buds of which must be selected to form the cordons. 

 The highest on the stem are the most eligible ; but the 

 operator can, of course, select the two shoots which are 

 most convenient for his training wire, and they should 

 be as nearly as possible opposite. When sufficiently 

 advanced in growth to be flexible, they should be care- 

 fully bent down and fastened to short sticks, unless the 

 training wires are used. As the whole energies of the 

 tree are directed into these shoots, they wUl make rapid 

 growth, and as they advance fresh sticks and fresh 

 tying will be necessary. As any lateral or upright 

 shoots are put forth they must be stopped at three or 

 four leaves from their bases. The first year few of 

 these will be made, but the tree will most probably, if 

 there is a favourable growth, be studded with fruit buds. 

 In November, or, indeed, any month from November to 



