140 THE MODERN PEACH PRUNER. 



acquire more space for the roots, while the shoots 

 on the lower third of the tree thus advanced will 

 be allowed to grow all round, as in pyramidal 

 cordons. Thus the space gained by advancing the 

 alternate trees will be utilised, and the tree be 

 allowed to make more wood at that part which 

 most requires it. At about five feet from the 

 ground the stem is allowed to touch the wall, and 

 is trained, like the others, close to it. The angle 

 of inclination of all is only about 6°, as the trees 

 are now full grown and established. To distinguish 

 them from the usual flat diagonals, I have named 

 them " diagonals with pyramidal bases." 



The advantages of diagonal training may be 

 briefly summed up as follows : — The trees come 

 sooner into bearing, which is only to be expected, 

 as each tree lies at the natural angle made by a 

 branch with the parent stem ; the wall is sooner 

 covered than by any other mode ; many varieties 

 can be grown side by side, and those not found 

 good replaced ; a succession is obtained from the 

 same wall, which is a great object in small houses 

 or gardens ; the produce is large ; the training is 

 not more difficult than is the case with other 

 forms; and the trees are very readily untied to 

 cleanse the wall — also a matter of importance. 



There is little doubt that, when better known, 

 this form for the back wall will become common. 



