Espaliers
A term applied to a mode of training fruit-trees in the open ground, either as permanent features or preparatory to placing them on walls or on a trellis inside a house. Many methods are employed, some of a temporary, and others of a permanent, character. For a single tree, a row of stakes about 5ft. high, driven in the ground, 9in. apart, is suitable. A narrow strip of wood is generally laid on the tops of the stakes, and a nail driven into each, to hold them firmly. Fruit-trees trained as Espaliers, to separate borders running parallel to walks from the inside garden, sometimes have strained wires fixed for the purpose. Another mode is to have end posts, to which are secured top and bottom rails, with vertical strips of wood nailed to them. The trees may be trained to any desired shape as Espaliers, in the same way as if they were on walls. Full exposure to light on both sides is obtained by proper thinning; but the advantages of a wall regarding the protection afforded cannot, of course, be similarly secured. An upright-trained fruit-tree is shown in Fig. 736; the stem is represented rather higher than is usual with trees trained in this way. Stakes at each end, and an Espalier frame fixed to them, would suit such a tree best; or one each of the former might be inserted to the upright branches separately. See also Training.