Although an old practice in France, we believe training trees en cordon has been but little practiced in this country. For the purposes of testing a great variety of fruits in a small compass - for covering a trellis, thereby forming a screen - for growing varieties that require shelter from late spring or early autumnal frosts, the system of cordon training is undoubtedly a valuable method of practice. As there are many who have never seen a cordon trellis, or know anything of the manner of its practice, we will present it a little in detail. First, then, a trellis or lattice-work is to be erected, by planting stout posts and nailing thereto horizontal rails, usually three in number. See our figure. To these, horizontal bars, vertical curved slats, or strong wire are nailed or secured at distances of about one foot apart, and at each upright curved slat or wire a tree is to be planted, and its main trunk or body fastened to the slat. Every limb is then to be shortened back to within two, three, or four buds from the main stem, and as the trees grow, these are to be from time to time pinched or cut back, until the whole body is a continuation of fruit-bearing spurs.

If too vigorous growth occurs, then the roots are to be cut off within a foot or so of the body of the tree, by means of a long, sharp spade. Our figure shows the trellis in its various stages, and with four trees planted and trained. The first expense of this method is greater than the usual one of espalier training, because of the additional number of trees required; but as it takes a much less time to bring the trees into a productive bearing condition, and as it enables one to grow a number of kinds of fruit in a small compass, it pays well for the additional first outlay.

Fig. 26.