[8] 



[Appendix. 



IV. On a Mode of training Fruit Trees, described by M. Noisette : 

 By George Henry Noehden, LL.D. F.L. S. 8$c. Vice-Secre- 

 tary. 



Read September 2, 1817. 



The art of training fruit trees belongs to modern gardening, and 

 has of late years been much attended to : it was formerly little un- 

 derstood. As the productiveness of the trees is much influenced 

 by this operation, its importance must be admitted, and every im- 

 provement which is made in it, must be considered as an acquisi- 

 tion to Horticulture. M. Noisette, of Paris, whom we have the 

 satisfaction of counting among our Corresponding Members, has 

 in the Bon Jardinier, for the year 1817,* (of which he is one of the 

 joint editors,) described a mode of training, that may be applied to 

 standard trees. Though it may, perhaps, not be quite new, it 

 will, I think, not be unacceptable to the Society to hear a short 

 report of it. A frame, or stand of a given height, and circumfer- 

 ence, is constructed, either round the tree which is to be trained, or 

 by the side of it. If it is to encompass the tree, the circular form 

 is most obvious. The stem then stands in the middle, and the 

 shoots and branches are laid flat on the top or roof, which is hori- 

 zontal, and covered with cross sticks, or laths, as a trellis. In this 

 manner, for instance, M. Noisette trained a cherry tree (see Fig. 

 1.) The appearance of such a frame, when the tree is in foliage 

 and blossom, or fruit, must be rather interesting : it affords, as 

 M. Noisette says, the picture of a well garnished table. He 

 made his frame only 3 feet high : but, I presume, it is optional 

 to make it of greater height, so that it may serve for an arbour. 



* Page 305. 



