342 THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FRUIT GROWING. 



not too closely. I have even in nurseries seen things called 

 cordons" with every shoot allowed to rise up like a willow 

 wand — ^utterly neglected and on the wrong stock; and I 

 have in other cases seen them so pinched in as to be worth- 

 less sticks. Of course success could not be expected under 

 the circumstances; and I must caution the reader against 

 taking such things as examples of the cordon system^ or 

 placing any reliance on the opinions of their producers. 



As the Paradise keeps its roots quite near the surface of 

 the ground, spreading an inch or two of half decomposed 

 manure over the ground,, or in gardening language mulching 



it^ could not fail 

 ^^^•i^S- to be beneficial. 



The galvanized 

 wire support (No. 

 14) is neatest and 

 cheapest, and in 

 fact, the only one 

 that should be used. 



The cordons are 

 usually planted too 

 <jlose together in 

 France. InDecem- 

 iDcr last I finished 

 an experimental 

 plantation of 500 

 at six feet apart, 

 but anticipate taking every second one up after a year or two. 

 When the cordons overtake each other it is common to graft 

 them one to another — a very simple operation. If when 

 all are united they should grow too strong in rich ground, 

 the stem of every second plant may be cut off just beneath the 

 wire and the trees will be nourished by the others. When 

 the line is well trained and established the wire may be taken 

 away altogether ; but it is so very inexpensive that it is 

 scarcely worth while removing it. If the plantation be 

 made on a slope all the trees should be planted so as to 

 grow up the incline. 



Finally, in winter, the trees will be the better for being 



Grafting by approach, to unite the points of Hori- 

 zontal Cordons. The apex of each Cordon is cut at 

 A, when firmly united to its neighbour. 



