THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



tree to become semi-established at once. The trees are best 

 not nailed up to the walls for some time after planting, as this 

 will enable them to settle properly in their sites, which is not 

 always the case if they are secured to the walls immediately after 

 planting. For planting against walls the fan-shaped tree is the 

 best form, the distance between the trees varying a little 

 according to the character of the soil — if a nice loam, 20ft. apart 

 will be none too much space for full development of the trees ; 

 if not a very good soil, i6ft. will be plenty, as much less 

 growth will be made than on a more suitable soil. 



For the first few years the pruning must be done in such a 

 manner as to form a shapely, well-proportioned tree. To this 

 end special care is necessary to develop the lower branches first, 

 not filling up the middle or centre of the tree until the lower 

 and side branches are secured. If this is done, a beautiful tree 

 is made, each branch being strong and fruitful. Summer pruning 

 is necessary for obtaining good results. At any time during the 

 summer, when the young shoots are ift. or so long, they should 

 be cut back to about four eyes. Fresh growth will be made 

 from the end bud, and this may be pinched back to two or 

 three eyes again, repeating the process as often as may be 

 requisite by the new growth made. At the end of September or 

 early in October it is advisable to cut back the current year's 

 wood to about the fourth eye, or where it was cut the first time 

 in summer pruning : if cut closer, some of the finest fruit-buds 

 will be destroyed. The young wood made at the point of the 

 branches should not be cut back when summer pruning, unless 

 the tree has filled up all the wall space available : then it would 

 be necessary to cut it back, as there would not be room for 

 further extension of the branches. 



Sometimes cordon-trees are recommended as being excellent 

 for planting against outside walls. In some few places they may 

 answer fairly well, but our experience is that they are more 

 adapted for culture under glass, and cannot be recommended 

 for general outside culture. It is much preferable to plant the 

 fan-shaped tree, putting the Morello against North walls, and the 

 sweet or dessert varieties in other and more favourable aspects. 

 The Morello and a few other varieties succeed admirably on the 

 Mahaleb stock, notably May Duke, Late Duke, Empress Eugenie, 

 Archduke, Royal Duke, Early Rivers, Emperor Francis, Governor 

 Wood, and one or two others of that class. The above list 

 includes early, mid-season, and late varieties. May Duke and 

 Early Rivers are early, the latter possessing very fine flavour; 

 Late Duke and Emperor Francis are late; and the others are 

 more of a mid-season character. Opinions differ as to the best 

 stock for the Heart, Bigarreau, and Kentish Cherries, but on the 

 great majority of soils it will be found that the Cherry stock is 

 the best, and the nurserymen nearly always employ it. The 



