THE GARDENER. 



59 



the wall, although by so doing they are placed at a 



disadvantage as regards the maintenance of vigour 

 comparatively with those above them. The latter 

 should have their foliage partially reduced when they 

 exhibit signs of too great vigour; and the lower should 

 have their ends turned upwards, for this will encou- 

 rage a much greater flow of sap than if they were kept 

 wholly horizontal. In short, these lower branches 

 should be allowed to ascend, on springing from the 

 stem, at an angle of 45° for about six inches; then 

 they should be made to curve to a horizontal position 

 towards autumn. Next season the young shoot from 

 the extremities will naturally tend upwards ; incline 

 it to its horizontal position before it gets too strong, 

 and continue to do so as it proceeds in growth ; but 

 leave the growing end always elevated. 



The side branches obtained in the second season 

 may be allowed to form two each, if sufficiently vigo- 

 rous, at some distance from their base, and as their 

 divergence affords room. The branches produced af- 

 ter those last mentioned, and indeed all the upper ones, 

 may be subdivided into two, or even three. By this 

 method of training the low^er branches become strong, 

 and acquire a well-established communication with the 

 roots before the upper are in existence, so that there 

 is little danger of the former dying off, as usually hap- 

 pens when horizontal and vertical branches are started 

 at the same time. 



By repeating the process here detailed, all the prin- 

 cipal branches are ultimately produced, to the number 

 of between thirty and forty, and disposed in a fan-like 

 form, diverging, not exactly from a common centre, 

 but from a short axis. These branches support the 

 shoots on which during the second season of their 

 existence, the fiuit is borne. Buds for the origin of 

 these shoots should be selected at the distance of every 

 twelve or fourteen inches along the upper side of the 



