Improvements in Espalier Walls.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Espalier Walls.
I, WILLIAM BUSCHE, of 11 Boulevard Leopold II, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The espalier wall which forms the object of this invention is characterized by an
improved system of applying the espalier binders, the consequence of which is to
permit of the realization of all of those conditions which are indispensable for this
system of arboriculture in view of its maximum yield.
In the presence of the always increasing development of the culture of fine
fruits or table fruits, and of the delicate care which such culture requires from the
budding time up to the maturity of the products, the attention of the fruit grower
must be principally directed toward such soil as is most suitable for the quality
and flavour of the fruits, that is to say, the walling espalier, its constitution and
arrangement are of a great importance for the obtention of exemplary specimens.
From this point of view two essential conditions are indispensable namely a surface
favouring as much as possible the reflection of the heat of the sun and the keeping of
the fruit in an immediate proximity of this surface of reflection. For the purpose of
realizing the first condition, the wall surfaces must not be constructed of material
which absorbs the sun heat, such as ordinary terra cotta bricks and the like, but of
harder ceramic products such as slabs or bricks of artificial stone, porcelain, glazed
stone ware, glass and the like which by reason of their greater density will reflect
the heat instead of absorbing the same and will favour the radiation by their natural
white tint as well as by the smooth nature of their surface. Moreover the joints
must not be made with ordinary soft mortar which again constitutes rather a
considerable beat absorbing element, but by the aid of a hard and dry mortar
presenting the same density as the stone slabs or bricks so that the surface be
uniform and smooth all over its extent, a condition which can moreover be favoured
by the use of joint plates with tenon fastening.
However, on the one hand, an espalier wall thus constructed presents the indicated
advantages, but has on the other hand the difficulty which is opposed to keeping the
branches of the trees and consequently the fruits at an immediate proximity of
the surface, because it is not possible to fix therein, as in an ordinary wall, the usual
fastening or binding means, which in their simplest form consist of nails inserted
into the joints and one is obliged to have recourse to this other means of fastening
or attaching which consists in erecting, in front of the wall, a ledge trellis work,
which, on its part, presents this still greater inconvenience of considerably removing
the fruits from the radiating surface and of causing them to thus lose, as it were,
the whole benefit of the reflected heat.
It is because of the absence of binding or connecting means that the improved
model espalier-wall herein before indicated, has remained unknown up to the present
time and that brick walls with ordinary soft mortar have been always used enabling
numerous nails to be inserted into the joints.
However apart from the loss of heat by absorption, it presents a great number of
other disadvantages. Firstly the nails, finding only a slight holding medium in
the mortar, become detached under the increase of the weight of the fruits which
nails then fall out or at least become loosened and the holes thus formed in the
mortar by the shrinkage thereof as well as the cavities resulting from its decay,

page_text: form refuges for the rapid increase of vermin, destroying the good effects of the
culture. Moreover, the walls, can. only with difficulty be white-washed or lime
washed and in so doing the branches are liable to be injured and the buds
knocked off as this work is usually accomplished during the time that the buds are
opening.
All these inconveniences, totally disappear when the naturally white model wall
is used, to which dirt and the like does not adhere and can be removed with
the greatest facility by a jet of water passed over the surface which is thus
entirely restored by simple washing and without the deteriorating brushing
operation.
In view therefore of adapting the model espalier wall for general use in, arbori-
culture, it is necessary to provide special and appropriate fastening or binding
means, realizing all conditions for perfect culture without involving any of the
inconveniences adherent to the systems in use.
This perfect result: is, obtained in a radical manner by employing stone slabs.or
bricks in such a manner, that the fastening or binding means are in direct connection
therewith on manufacturing the same, that is to say they form a rigid part with the
material, constituting the stone, slabs oor: bricks before their being united to form
..& wall.
In fact in, this manner the joints of the masonry remain. intact since the binding
or fastening means project over the stone proper between the joints which can thus
be arranged by the aid of a white, very hard, and dry mortar which does not
became deteriorated and which. can be smoothened at will so as to constitute a
.surface-even, with the surfaces of the stone slates, made of a very dense and white
material for the purpose: of favouring as much as possible the action of the sun
..heat.
The fastening bolts or knobs may be made of the same material as the: bricks or
plates and the whole can consequently undergo the burning process as it constitutes
one single stone. Bolts or knobs of different material.to that of the plate may be
..secured in, the plate. In this case the fastening devices are inserted into the paste
of the plate, either directly, or in holes provided beforehand in order to subsequently
pass.the whole.to, the kiln and thus fix the fastening means in the material of the
plate.
.
A third means of fixing consists in providing in the plates simply a number of
holes equal to that of the fastening, or binding means and to subsequently fix the
same in these holes by simply driving them by the aid of a hammer or by screwing
them into the plates with one of their. extremities provided that the fastening or
binding devices are applied to the plate before. the masonry takes place.
In certain cases; for examplexwhen non fructiferous tree plants are in question,
-such as ivy and the like, the fastening means would be superfluous and one might
comploy plates or bricks, simply provided with holes in which these plants > find
sufficient hold and, for, which such holes can serve, because they do not give rise to
the development of vermin.
The model espalierwalk is preferably provided with an exterior cover of plates.
If the plates are of great dimensions, tenon joints are used; these joints may be
...omitted, when the plates on slabs receive the shape of simple bricks.
By applying the described system likewise to the roofing of the wall by fiking
thereto eye bolts comholding. ledges, it is evident, that it is very easy to provide
menns for protecting the espalier against the frost, by frames or curtains which
mare suspended, from books on eyebolts on holding dedges, on which they are rapidly
and easily displaced.

page_text: I, WILLIAM BÜSCHE, of 11 Boulevard Leopold II, Brussels, in the Kingdom
of Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The espalier wall which forms the object of this invention is characterized by an
improved system of applying the espalier binders, the consequence of which is to
permit of the realization of all of those conditions which are indispensable for
this system of arboriculture in view of its maximum yield.
In the presence of the always increasing developments of the culture of fine
fruits or table fruits, and of the delicate care which such culture requires from
the budding time up to the maturity of the products, the attention of the fruit
grower must be principally directed toward such soil as is most suitable for the
quality and flavour of the fruits, that is to say, the walling espalier, its constitution
and arrangement are of a great importance for the obtention of exemplary
specimens.
From this point of view two essential conditions are indispensable namely a
surface favouring as much as possible the reflection of the heat of the sun and the
keeping of the fruit in immediate proximity to this surface of reflection. For the
purpose of realizing the first condition the wall surfaces must not be constructed
of material which absorbs the sun heat, such as ordinary terra cotta bricks and the
like, but of harder ceramic products such as slabs or bricks of artificial stone,
porcelain, glazed stone ware, glass and the like which by reason of their greater
density will reflect the heat instead of absorbing the same and will favour the
radiation by their natural white tint as well as by the smooth nature of their
surface. Moreover the joints must not be made with ordinary soft mortar
which again constitutes rather a considerable heat absorbing element, but by the
aid of a hard and dry mortar presenting the same density as the stone slabs
or bricks so that the surface be uniform and smooth all over its extent, a
condition which can moreover be favoured by the use of joint plates with tenon
fastening.
However, on the one hand, an espalier wall thus constructed presents the
indicated advantages, but has on the other hand the difficulty which is opposed
to keeping of the branches of the trees and consequently of the fruits in immediate
proximity to the surface, because it is not possible to fix therein, as in an ordinary
wall, the usual fastening or binding means, which in their simplest form consist of
nails inserted into the joints and one is obliged to have recourse to this other
means of fastening or attaching which consists in erecting, in front of the wall,
a ledge trellis work, which, on its part, presents this still greater inconvenience
of considerably removing the fruits from the radiating surface and of causing them
to thus lose, as it were, the whole benefit of the reflected heat.
It is because of the absence of binding or connecting means that the improved
model espalier-wall herein before indicated, has remained unknown up to the
present time and that brick walls with ordinary soft mortar have been always
used enabling numerous nails to be inserted into the joints.
However apart from the loss of heat by absorption, it presents a great number
of other disadvantages. Firstly the nails, finding only a slight holding medium in
the mortar, become detached under the increase of the weight of the fruits which
nails then fall out or at least become loosened, and the holes thus formed in the
mortar by the shrinkage thereof as well as the cavities resulting from its decay,
form refuges for the rapid increase of vermin, destroying the good effects of
the culture. Moreover, the walls can only with difficulty be whitewashed or

page_text: lime washed and in so doing the branches are liable to be injured and the buds
knocked off as this work is usually accomplished during the time that the buds are
opening.
All these inconveniences totally disappear when the naturally white model wall is
used, to which dirt and the like do not adhere and can be removed with the
greatest facility by a jet of water passed over the surface which is thus
entirely restored by simple washing and without the deteriorating brushing
operation.
In view therefore of adapting the model espalier wall for general use in
arboriculture, it is necessary to provide special and appropriate fastening or
binding means, realizing all conditions for perfect culture without involving any
of the inconveniences adherent in the systems at present in use.
This perfect result is obtained in a radical manner by employing stone slabs or
bricks in such a manner that the fastening or binding means are in direct con-
nection therewith on manufacturing the same, that is to say they form a rigid part
with the material constituting the stone slabs or bricks before their being united to
form a wall.
In fact in this manner the joints of the masonry remain intact since the binding
or fastening means project over the stone proper between the joints which can
thus be arranged by the aid of a white, very hard and dry mortar which does
not become deteriorated and which can be smoothened at will so as to constitute
a surface even with the surfaces of the stone slabs made of a very dense and
white material, for the purpose of favouring as much as possible the action of
the sun heat.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a section of part of an espalier wall showing the bolts or knobs made
in one therewith.
Figures 2 and 3 are similar sections showing other ways of fixing the bolts or
pins.
Figure 4 is a section and partial section of an espalier wall constructed according
to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a similar view of a modified form of the improved wall and
Figures 6 and 7 show the application of curtains or frames to the walls.
The fastening bolts or knobs may be made of the same material as the bricks or
plates and the whole cau consequently undergo the buruing process as it constitutes
one single stone as shown for example in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the
application of bolts or knobs of different material to that of the plate. In
this case the fastening devices a are inserted into the paste. of the plate P,
either directly, or in holes provided beforehand in order to subsequently pass
the whole to the kiln and thus fix the fastening means in the material of the
plate.
A third means of fixing consists in providing in the plates simply a number of
holes equal to that of the fastening or binding means and to subsequently fix the
same in these holes by simply driving them by the aid of a hammer or by
screwing them into the plates with one of their extremities as shown in Figure 3,,
provided that the fastening or binding devices are applied to the plates before they
are built up..
In certain cases, for example when nonfructiferous tree plants are in question,
such as ivy and the like, the fastening means would be superfluous and one might
employ plates or bricke, simply provided with holes in which these plants find
sufficient hold and for which such holes can serve because they do not give rise to
the development of vermin.
The model espalier wall is preferably provided with an exterior cover of plates
as shown respectively in plates of great dimensions and with tenon joints; these
apparatus with joints may be omitted when the plates or slabs receive the shape of
simple bricks.
By applying the described system likewise to the roofing F of the wall as shown

page_text: in Figures 6 and 7 by fixing thereto eye bolts or holding ledges p it is evident that
it is very easy to provide means for protecting the espalier against the frost, by
frames or curtains R which are suspended from hooks or eye bolts or holding
ledges G, on which they are rapidly and easily displaced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A model espalier wall characterized by forming the exposing surface of
plates, slabs or bricks or other constructional apparatus of appropriate materials,.
previously provided with fastening knobs or bolts and united by ordinary joints or
tenon joints by the aid of white and hard mortar substantially as described.
2. Means for fastening the bolts or knobs in the plates or bricks for espalier
walling as described in the first claim, consisting:
moulding with the slabs or plates.
(2) In inserting them into the material either directly or into hollows provided
for this purpose before the burning process.
(c) In fixing them in holes in the plates or bricks after burning by screwing or
otherwise, substantially as described.
3. The replacement of the plates or slabs with fastening devices as hereinbefore-
described, by plates provided with holes serving as holding means.
Dated this 14th day of September 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant..