54 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



espalier or "gridiron" trees — having the main 

 branches taken to the right and left of the 

 stein, from which vertical branches are trained 

 up at intervals, all branches in both forms being 

 in the same plane, so that they can be secured 

 to trellises or walls. The principal other form 

 adapted for the Apple is the cordon, which is a 



^^^^f^-^S^v^ 



Fig. 849.— Espalier Apple-tree— horizontally trained. 



still more restricted and artificial style of train- 

 ing. This is usually grown in the horizontal 

 form, either with a single stem in one direction, 

 or with two in opposite directions (double hori- 

 zontal cordon). The trees can also be formed 

 with stems inclined at an angle either as single, 

 double, or triple oblique cordons, but these are 

 not much in use in this country, the horizontal 

 cordons being preferred as edges to walks, &c, 

 where, under skilful treatment, very handsome 

 exhibition fruits can be obtained. 



The bush form admits of several variations 

 of a more artificial character than the type; of 

 these the most notable is the bowl-shaped, in 

 which all the central stems and branches are 

 removed, a series of even outer branches being 

 trained outwards and then vertically, and 

 treated after the manner of upright cordons. 

 Fine fruits can be had in this form, and well- 



balanced trees have a distinct appearance in a 

 garden, but they require a good deal of atten- 

 tion in pruning and training to keep them in 

 the right condition. 



Whatever form of tree is required, endeavour 

 to select such as are free from any indication of 

 disease or deformity. Let them be trees that 

 appear to have grown freely but natur- 

 ally from the bud or graft; excessively 

 vigorous or stunted trees are to be 

 avoided, but the latter are the worst. 

 See that the juncture of stock and scion 

 is even and the union complete, as that 

 is occasionally a source of material weak- 

 ness. The characteristic habit of the 

 variety must be remembered, and it is 

 not always the most symmetrical tree 

 that is the most fruitful, though sym- 

 metry is a point that must be considered. 

 Stocks and their effects. — The great ma- 

 jority of Apple-trees raised in nurseries 

 are worked upon stocks of some kind. 

 The principal important difference be- 

 tween stocks is in regard to their origin, 

 namely whether they have been raised 

 from seed or from layers. Plants differ- 

 ing widely in strength will be obtained 

 in both methods, but generally the layers 

 are more even, because only the best 

 and most suitable branches are selected 

 for the purpose. The chief point is that 

 there is a material difference in the root 

 systems of the two classes of stocks, which 

 may occasionally be only asserted tem- 

 porarily, while in other cases it will be 

 found to be permanent. The vigorous 

 vertical tap-root of a seedling Crab, 

 Apple, or Pear gives rise in the early stage to 

 the correspondingly strong upward growth of 

 the stems and branches, hence the name "Free 

 Stock" that is commonly applied to them. With 

 layers of all the Paradise stocks, or those raised 

 in a similar way, the root system differs in the 

 fact that there is no direct downward extension 

 of the main axis into the tap-root, but the first 

 roots produced are fibrous, similar to those of a 

 rooted cutting around that part of the branch 

 covered with soil, and from the callus formed 

 on the cut portion. In the case of the seedling 

 Crab or Apple we have a natural unrestrained 

 root system, and in the layered Paradise or 

 dwarfing stock the root system is restricted. 

 In consequence there is a broad distinction in 

 their initial stages between trees budded or 

 grafted upon the " free ", and the " dwarfing " 

 stocks, for stem and branch growth correspond 



