Appendix.] Mr. Noisette's Method of training Fruit Trees. 9 



or a like purpose. He seems to have chosen half standards, 

 but there is no reason, why full standards should not be treated 

 in a similar manner. The essential point is to lay the branches 

 in a horizontal position. For by training them in this way, the 

 current of the sap is forced to assume a direction, in which it 

 cannot move with the same quickness as it would in its natural 

 channel, which is from the root straight upwards : and the diver- 

 sion favours the process of forming fruit, by inducing, as has 

 elsewhere been intimated, a slower motion of the sap, and thus af- 

 fording time for the secretion and deposition of its particles. Ano- 

 ther example of training is exhibited by an apple tree, also of a 

 low size (see Fig. 2). Here M. Noisette has placed the frame by 

 the side of the tree : and it is oblong, with a slanting roof, or top, 

 having the appearance of a shed. On the roof the branches are 

 laid parallel to one another, which, though the roof is inclined, 

 gives them a horizontal position. The circular frame has the ad- 

 vantage, that you can conveniently lay down all the branches, 

 which cannot well be done with the lateral frame. M. Noisette has 

 left part of the apple tree to its natural liberty, training only one 

 side of it, which, under particular circumstances, may be beneacial 

 to the tree, but will not ensure an equal quantity of fruit. Trees, 

 which are trained by M. Noisette's method, are easily protected 

 from the injuries of wind, and weather. If they are of a low size, 

 they are not so much exposed to the influence of either : and it is 

 practicable to cover them, when they are in fruit, or blossom. Be- 

 sides those frames, M. Noisette has also what he terms Oblique 

 Espaliers, (see Fig. 3). in contradistinction to which he calls the 

 former Horizontal They consist of two sides, joined at an angle 

 of about 50 or 56 degrees : on these sides the trees are trained, 

 namely, one to each side. The branches, therefore, rest upon in- 

 clined planes instead of being placed horizontally. That inclina- 

 tion will be instrumental to the increase of fruit, in as much as it 

 bends and moderates the course of the sap, though it is probably 



VOL. II. * C 



