46 On Horizontal Espalier Training. 



down to within eight or nine inches of the ground ; and to 

 encourage three shoots from the top of each stool, so that the 

 first and lowermost horizontal shoots may be tied down 

 within ten inches of the ground. When at the end of the 

 season they will have the appearance of the annexed sketch, 

 previous to being tied down. 



In the pruning season, I cut down the middle shoot of the 

 three, reserving what is left as an upright leader, its length 

 being about twelve inches from the base of the other two, and 

 these I train in a horizontal position; I fix the middle shoot, 

 which was cut down perpendicularly, to the stake it is planted 

 against. But if it is against a wall or pales, it may be better 

 to zig-zag the upright leader, for the more regular distribution 

 of the sap, and when that is intended, the leader should be 

 left a little longer, to allow of its being bent. In espalier 

 training this zig-zagging is not so readily done, nor do I find 

 it is necessary where the trees are not intended to rise high. 

 When the shoots as above, are laid in, they have either of the 

 following appearances, according as the stem is upright or 

 zig-zag. 



It is always necessary, in the course of training the young 

 wood across the stakes, in summer, to have large osier or 



