Home1778 Edition

ESPALIERS

Volume 4 · 369 words · 1778 Edition

in gardening, are rows of trees planted about a whole garden or plantation, or in hedges, in such a manner as to inclose quarters or separate parts of a garden; and are trained up regularly to a lattice of wood-work in a close hedge for the defence of tender plants against the injuries of wind and weather. They are of admirable use and beauty in a kitchen-garden, serving not only to shelter the tender plants, but screen them from the sight of persons in the walks.

The trees chiefly planted for espaliers, are apples, pears, and some plums: some plant apples grafted upon paradise-stocks: but, as these are of short duration, it is better to plant those grafted upon crabstock, or upon what the gardeners call Dutch-stocks; which will both cause them to bear sooner, and prevent their growing too luxuriant. The best kind of apple for this purpose, are the golden pippen, nonpareil, renette, &c. and the best sort of pear, are the jargonelle, blanquette, &c. These last, if designed for a strong moist soil, should be grafted upon quince-stocks; but, if for a dry soil, upon free-stocks.

While the trees are young, it will be sufficient to drive a few stakes into the ground on each side of them; fastening the branches to these in an horizontal position, as they are produced. This method will do for the three first years; after which an espalier should be made of ash-poles, whereof there must be two sorts, larger and smaller; the former to be driven upright into the ground a foot asunder, and the latter, or slender poles, to be nailed across these, at about nine inches. Some prefer to this another sort of espalier, made of square timber cut to any size: these are, indeed, more lightly, but withal vastly more expensive.

When the espalier is thus framed, the branches are to be fastened to it with other-twigs; observing to train them in an horizontal position, and at equal distances. Fruit-trees thus managed, are preferable to any others; not only as bearing better-tasted fruit, but as taking up very little room in a garden, so as to be less hurtful to plants which grow in the quarters.