340 THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FRUIT GROWING. 



reason for supporting the cordon at one foot from the surface 

 is to prevent the frnit getting soiled by earthy splash- 

 ings. By having something planted underneath which 

 would prevent this^ we might bring the cordon lower down ; 

 but, though I have thought of several things likely to do 

 this^ none of them are very satisfactory. Doubtless, however, 

 we shall yet find something that may be cultivated with pro- 

 fit immediately under the cordon so as to prevent splashings, 

 and thus be able to bring it within six inches of the earth. 

 In gardens where it would not be suitable as an edging, 

 the best way would be to plant it ten inches within the 

 Box or whatever kind of edging was employed. In plant- 

 ing, keep the union of stock and scion just above the 

 surface of the ground, to prevent the Apple grafted on the 



Fig. 146. 



Reinette du Canada trained as a Cordon. 



Paradise from emitting its own roots, and consequently 

 becoming useless for such a mode of training. The trees 

 should never be fixed down to wire or wall immediately after 

 being planted ; but allowed to grow erect during the winter 

 months, and until the sap is moving in them, when they 

 may be tied down. Some allow them to grow erect a year 

 in position before tying them down. They should in 

 all cases be allowed to settle well into the ground 

 before being tied to anything. For general plantings, the 

 best and cheapest kinds of plants to get are those known as 

 " maidens/^ i.e., erect growing trees about a year from the 

 bud or graft. These can be readily trained down to the 

 wire, or to the wall, in spring. In training the young tree, 

 the point with its young growing shoot of the current year 



