THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FRUIT GROWING. 351 



appreciated by the best judges on tbe Continent^ may like 

 to learn how its merits are appreciated by one or two 

 English horticulturists who have had some opportunity of 

 examining its worth. The first opinion quoted is that of 

 one of the most able and experienced horticulturists in 

 England : — 



" As Mr. Robinson's writinsrs induced me to see for myself the horizontal 

 cordons on the true Paradise stock, my opinion may be as useful on this question 

 as that of some who have never seen them at all, or have not got beyond the 

 erroneous idea that they are espaliers with one branch, being ignorant of, or 

 ignoring the fact, that the stock is entirely different. I have seen a good many 

 espaliers in my time, but never one that bore a crop like those little cordons that 

 I saw at Ferriei'es, Versailles, and amongst the French fruit growers. The 

 espalier on the Crab stock, no matter how big and ugly was the trellis you put 

 it upon, was always with difficulty kept within bounds, always pushing its vigour 

 to the top branch, whereas the little trees I saw in France growing on very stiff 

 moist loams, were in the stubbiest and neatest condition that could be desired ; 

 and everywhere I was told that they were scarcely any trouble, a little pinching 

 now and then, and some attention to see that the spurs were equally distributed 

 along the line, being all that was required. Why, the trouble is worth incurring 

 for the sake of having such a pretty garniture to our walks in spring and autumn, 

 even if the great Apples were of wood, and not of the finest flavour. The pinch- 

 ing and training would be pleasant employment for ladies and young folks, in 

 their few hours' garden rambles, affording both profitable and amusing exercise. 

 So many tortured forms of trees have been presented to the public that I do not 

 wonder at those rejecting them who cannot see the undeniable merits w'hich have 

 been claimed for these cordons ; but when once they are seen well done, and in 

 working order (we cannot expect they will be in England for a year or two), 

 everybody interested in a garden will be charmed with them, and the plan will, 

 I venture to say, be adopted in the largest as well as the smallest gardens in the 

 land. Every operation connected with the culture of these trees will be agree- 

 able in consequence of its simplicity ; and it will be a pleasure to have the little 

 trees under the eye, from the unfolding of the rosy buds in spring to the gather- 

 ing of the fine fruit in autumn. It is to me very surprising that none of our 

 great fruit growers, pomologists, and others, who are, I believe, in the habit of 

 travelling in France every year, and some of them for the past thirty years, did 

 not spy out and introduce this system long ago, and more surprising still, that it 

 is but recently that we have learned from Mr. Robinson the real value and nature 

 of the stock (others who have mentioned it have always recommended the Doucin 

 or English Paradise), and no doubt but for his exposition of the matter, we might 

 have gone on for many years without knowing anything of value about it, as we 

 have already lived without such knowledge fur many years, notwithstanding the 

 proximity of the fruit gardens of northern France and southern England, and the 

 abundant intercourse between the two countries. We have brick and tile 

 edgings in all sorts of fancy forms, pebble, stone, slate, and wooden edgings, 

 also Grass, Box, Thrift, and many other living edgings; but when once fairly 

 understood, the little edging of choice Apple trees will prove the most popular, 

 profitable, and useful of them all for the fruit or kitchen garden. Apart from 

 edgings, the plan of planting the cordon on the ends, fronts, and low walls of 

 plant-pits, and glass houses, low walls and fences, small vacancies or spaces 

 between fruit trees on walls of any aspect — indeed, on any kind of blank space 

 on walls — is another distinct improvement ; and, when we have it in full operation, 

 the specimens of the finer and tenderer fruits grown on this method will be such 

 as we have not yet had the pleasure of producing in this country." — Mr. James 

 Baenes, of Bicton, in the Gardener s Chro7iicle, February 27, 1869. 



The next is that of one who has had excellent oppor- 



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