324 SELF-INARCHING OLD PEAE-TKEES. 



when growing in summer, a small slice is taken off near its extremity, 

 and a corresponding extent of surface immediately below the inner 

 bark of the stem is exposed ; the two are joined together, and the 

 point of the shoot a is inclined in the direction to form the branch c. 



Fig. LII. — Old Pear-branches inarclied witll youug wood, 



" The most remarkable feature in the trees at Corbeil was the 

 uniformity of vigour in the respective branches. It appeajed as if the 

 supplied branches ec, had been allowed to grow in connection both 

 with the stem at h b, and the branch from which they originated at a a, 

 till their length and thickness corresponded sufficiently with that of the 

 branches above and below them. This is a great advantage which the 

 mode possesses over budding or aide-grafting. At the distance of a 

 foot apart for the hoxizontal branches, it takes as many years to cover 

 ■Hie "wall as the latter is feet in height; for although the leading 

 shoot may grow three or four feet in length in a season, yet by short- 

 ening it to two feet, although the branches d d would be produced, the 

 buds at J 6, to furnish the intermediate stage, most probably woxdd 

 not. In fact, the attempt to form two tiers of horizontals in one season 

 is generally followed by more or less disappointment. The interme- 

 diate stage might, however, be readily supplied by the method above 

 detailed ; and a wall twelve feet high might be covered as well in six 

 years as it otherwise would in twelve." 



The advantage of this plan is obvious. The method is much more 

 expeditious than common grafting, and is especially suited for the 

 purposes of the amateur, who is usually in a hurry to obtain results. 

 It must not, however, be understood that the Corbeil method is 

 unknown in England. On the contrary, Mr. James Abraham, of 

 Charlton Park Garden, near Cheltenham, has been in the habit of prac- 

 tising this method for years. He says that he has operated upon Vines, 

 Apples, Pears, and Plums, with complete success ; he has had a Vine 



