348 THE CORDON SYSTEM OP FRUIT GROWING. 



their base. During the summer the two shoots ought to 

 form a strong cordon fit for sale in the following winter. 

 The simple cordon with one branch is formed in the same 

 manner^ except that one bud only is allowed to grow. There 

 are many other methods of procuring these forms^ but I 

 like the one above indicated better than that of bending 

 the shoot directly to the wire either in the first year of 

 , plantation or the second year^ as recommended by some 

 professors .■'^ 



Since the discussion which took place in the Times 

 and the gardening journals concerning the merits of this 

 mode of apple-growing, and since the first part of this 

 chapter was written/ 1 have seen miles of cordons on the 

 Paradise in many parts of France and in Switzerland, and 

 sought everywhere to ascertain its merits and defects ; and 

 the result is that I am more than ever satisfied of its great 

 value. Before stating my reasons, let us first devote a few 

 minutes to the more important objections to the system. 

 I have been active in proclaiming its merits. It should be 

 equally well known that some of the most distinguished 

 horticulturists in the country have condemned it. Some 

 have considered that a late frosty season would be fatal to 

 low cordons, and that our climate is too conducive to the 

 growth of gross wood, whereas on the Continent it becomes 

 ripe and stubby, and the trees may be preserved within 

 bounds. If such were the fact, this objectionable tendency 

 should be more developed in the warm parts of north- 

 western France near the sea coast ; but this is not the case. 

 Grafted on the true French Paradise stock, the tree is 

 always good, and keeps perfectly within bounds in parts of 

 France and Belgium as cold as southern England. In a 

 note from Professor Morren, of Liege, he says : " The cul- 

 ture of the Apple as a cordon on the Paradise stock has 

 been extensively tried in this country, and is rapidly ex- 

 tending, particularly near Liege, Yerviers, Huy, Namur^ 

 and in all the Flemish districts. Hedges of horizontal cor- 

 don Apples and of Pears are now formed along the sides 

 of the railway between Brussels and Louvain. These plan- 

 tations were made two years ago, and have proved very 



