44 RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 



allowance is made for this slight difference, it should be treated 

 in the same way. 



The espalier is really a cordon, with more than one pair 

 of horizontal branches, arranged one above the other. The 

 lowest pair is grown first as if the tree were to be an ordinary 

 cordon. But when it has developed sufiQciently, a leader is 



Fig. 17.— Espalier Fruit Tree (above), and Cordon (below). 



allowed to grow, and, when a second pair of branches can be 

 obtained from it, it is stopped, in order to divert the sap into 

 them. Afterwfirds, if desired, a third pair can be formed in 

 the same way, and so, in time, a tree of many pairs can be 

 built up. 



ll will be seen that in espiiliers, and especially in cordons, 

 the amount of hoarinfj wood is ]<e\)\ at the lowest limit. The 

 result is, (hat though the quantity of the fruit is reduced, the 

 quality is exceptionally fine. 



