114 



FRUIT TREES. 



The vacant space at the other end must be filled up 

 thus : — The last tree must be planted at about two 

 yards from the limit of the espalier ; it must first be 

 treated as the others have been; then, instead of 

 lowering it to 45 degrees, it must be lowered a little 

 further ; the following year lowered still more, and 

 when the stem of the plant has acquired such a length 

 that when placed horizontally it will occupy the whole 

 space shown in figure 98, it is brought into its proper 

 horizontal position. During the following simimer 

 allow the four or five shoots, intended to form upward 

 branches growing upon it, to develop themselves. 



Wall trees trained in this way attain their full size 

 in five years, a gain of at least ten or twelve years 

 compared with other methods. 



By this plan the trees become fruitful in the fourth 

 year, and attain their maximum in the sixth year, 

 while other and larger forms require twenty years to 

 attain their maximum. If the extent of wall is 

 limited, only a small number of varieties can be 

 planted by the ordinary method of growing large 

 trees ; while the method we have now described allows 

 of a considerable number of varieties being planted, 

 their fruit ripening throughout the season. 



If a large pear tree die, it will require fifteen or 

 eighteen years to replace it. With the new methods 

 of oblique cordon it will be only necessary to proceed 

 thus : — ^Dig a hole, about 16 inches wide and 20 

 inches in depth, in the centre of the spot left vacant 

 by the dead tree. Cut away the roots of the neigh- 

 bouring trees which grow into the hole. Drive two 



