L ECOLE REGIONALE DE LA SAULSAIE. 



607 



is not uufrequently the case in French fruit gardens^ the 

 branches of the pyramids are brought regularly in straight 

 lines from the bole of the tree — that is^ the branches form 

 four, five, or six wings, as the case may be ; five is perhaps 

 the most usual number. In the case I am describing there 

 are four wings to each pyramid ; but the branches, instead 

 of being stopped, as is usually the case, are trained in 

 straight lines from one pyramid to the other, so that they 

 cross each other, forming a wall of trellis work, an opening 

 being left at the bottom under which one may pass. In 

 one spot there were regular little squares formed thus 

 between every four trees — ^in fact, a green wall of from 

 twelve to fourteen feet high enclosed the visitor. I never 

 met with this elsewhere, and it was very well done. 



An expedient to give additional support and strength to 

 the espaliers was, when employing the double trellis, to 

 let the two sides meet at top and lean against each other — 

 thus, — ^instead of placing them vertically, as is the custom. 

 A line of trees trained in the vase form were united one 

 with the other by a strong arched branch, the branch 

 springing from the top of the vase ; and this simply because 

 the place is open to fierce winds, which would render 

 such exposed trees insecure without some support. I 

 question if any garden could afi'ord a better test of the 

 effect of wind on trained trees. Some that were standing 

 singly looked like very neat summer-houses. They were 

 pyramids, with the branches brought out from the main 

 stem in six lines, the branches in each line being of course 

 placed exactly one above the other. Trees are trained 

 thus so that the air and light may fully benefit all parts of 

 them. The character of a pretty bower was imparted to 

 the space between every two wings of the tree by simply 

 carrying an arched branch from wing to wing overhead. 



There is here a very well- furnished Peach wall, made of 

 common earth firmly pressed between boards in the making, 

 and with a foundation of rough stones to prevent the hu- 

 midity sapping the base. This kind of wall is good enough 

 for its object, will last for ages if well made, and may be 

 coated and coped so as to look as ornamental as any other. 



