ORCHARD-HOUSE PRUNING AND TRAINING. 141 



Mr. Richard Clay, of Hampton Court, has had the 

 happy idea of largely adopting this method for his 

 large span-roofed house, 160 feet long by 16 high, 

 and of great width. In this house there are six 

 rows of diagonal cordons, trained parallel to the 

 length of the house on wires at an angle of 45°, 

 with shoots on both sides. The produce of this 

 new house is already very great. 



For the open air it may be questioned if, in this 

 climate, the diagonal is sufficiently large of form, 

 and therefore suitable, although it succeeds in 

 France. It is, however, strange that it is not more 

 adopted for Pears, Apples, and Plums on the open 

 wall, where a large variety and a succession of fruit 

 is desired, and the walls are more than 11 feet 

 high. Cherries are rather rebellious under this 

 form. Plums do very well, requiring, however, 

 the triple cordon ; very strong-growing sorts might 

 not suit. For choice Apples, however, and es- 

 pecially for Pears, there is no question of the 

 advantages to be derived from this simple and 

 natural mode of training. It is much adopted 

 on the Continent, and will gradually make its way 

 here : not, however, that English gardeners need 

 this teaching. I believe I may say that Mr. 

 Pearson thinks highly of this form, and I know 

 that Mr. Rivers does. 



The easiest method of forming a diagonal cordon 



