ESPALIER, a lattice-work or row of stalks, originally shoulder high, on which fruit trees, shrubs and flowers, partic ularly roses and creepers, are trained. Espaliers are usually made of larch or other wood, iron and metal rails being too great con ductors of heat and cold. The advantage of this method of train ing is that the fruit, etc., is more easily got at, and while pro tected from wind is freely exposed to sun and air, and not so open to extreme changes of temperature as when trained on a wall.
(See HORTICULTURE.)