THE CORDON SYSTEM OF FRUIT GROWING. 353 



Fig. 151. 



Fig. 152. 



figures^ and in this way dispose of the much debated 

 question as to what is best to do with the fruit borders. By 

 so doing we should collect such a valuable lot of fruit trees 

 immediately in front of each wall as would render it con- 

 venient and highly desirable to protect efficiently both walls 

 and borders, and by the same means. The low cordons will 

 no more shade the 

 wall than a crop 

 of small salading, 

 will prevent all 

 necessity for dis- 

 turbing the border, 

 and will utilize 

 every inch of its 

 space. Indeed, I 

 can conceive of no 

 greater improve- 

 ment in our fruit 

 culture than de- 

 voting to fruit 

 trees those excel- 

 lent sunny borders 

 at the foot of our 



Narrow border 

 in front of fruit 

 wall, with two 

 lines of hori- 

 zontal cordons, 

 pi'Otected in 

 spring by wide 

 temporai-y cop- 

 ing and rough 

 canvas. 



Peach wall and border, with five 

 lines of cordons, the whole pro- 

 tected in spring. 



Fig. 153. 



that usually lie 

 fruit walls. By 

 this plan we should, it is true, sacrifice 

 some of the more suitable spots for 

 our early vegetables and salads, but we 

 should gain very much more, and the 

 change would be in every way conducive 

 to the beauty and utility of our gardens. 

 When the wall trees are being attended 

 to the cordons cannot be forgotten, and 

 the whole will be under the eye at a 

 glance. 



The Pear may be grown thus, and the Apple to the highest 

 degree of perfection ; so much so that I have no doubt what- 

 ever that the splendid Apples which may be grown in this 

 way would, if put to the market test, more than pay for 

 the expense of protecting cordons and wall trees at the 

 same time, by means of the plan shown above. Other 



A A 



Double espalier of pears, 

 with three lines of cor- 

 don apples on each 

 side, the whole to be 

 protected in spring as 

 suggested in the illus- 

 tration. 



