77 

 OjS" PEOTECTINO ay all TEEES while IN" BLOOM. 



BY JOHN P. m'eLEOT, 



Head Gardener at Moray Lodge, CamiDden Hill. 



[HE erection of glass structures against walls, and the 

 building of orchard-bouses, bave somewhat superseded 

 out-door crops. Their cheapness, combined with the 

 facility for their removal as well as erection, must, as 

 time progresses, render them extremely popular, so 

 that in every garden, however small, where a wall is to be found, it 

 will create no surprise to find the same converted into a glass 

 structure for the growth of wall fruits, so adapted as to combat with 

 the conflicting elements of an adverse atmosphere without. Tet 

 while gardens remain without these valuable aids for the growth of 

 peaches and nectarines, we must content ourselves by adopting such 

 means as we have at our command for guarding against the sudden 

 changes of our climate. The question is, what kind of attack do 

 we seek to check by employing covering ? In the first place, we 

 must admit that judicious covering to peaches and nectarines while in 

 bloom is indispensable. The next consideration is how and when 

 it should be used. To begin, we would have the covering ready, 

 and fix it in case of need, as soon as the blooming buds exhibit their 

 colour, the object sought by its use is to preserve the 'vital powers 

 of the pollen, and this can only be done effectually by maintaining 

 a dry atmosphere, as far as possible, in and around the blooming 

 portion of the tree. This teaches us how and when to employ the 

 covering. Cold, dull days are often the forerunners of rain, snow, 

 or sleet, and sometimes a combination of all three, generally followed 

 by frosty nights. Here, then, we should be on the alert, and be 

 ready at a moment's warning to drop the covering in a skinting 

 direction, so as to carry off rain, etc., etc. ; the ends and middle to 

 be fixed tightly to stakes, to prevent their flapping against the trees. 

 If rain or snow is allowed to settle on the pollen, and does not 

 quickly dry, or should frost follow, the pollen rots, and thus loses its 

 fertilizing properties. This is the true secret why after a good dis- 

 play of bloom there is but a scanty crop of fruit, or none at all, in 

 ninety cases out of a hundred. 



Some persons, I have observed, permit the covering to remain 

 over the trees both night and day, till they can discern the fruit. 

 The consequence of this injudicious treatment is in the course of 

 time to materially affect their health, creating an enlargement of t^he 

 stomates or pores of the leaves, which causes them when subject to 

 a change to partially collapse, so that insects increase among them 

 rapidly, and thus the wood becomes weak and of a sickly hue. 

 Others, on the contrar}', pull the covering down every evening, and 

 fold it up in the morning. This practice is quite unnecessary in 

 dry weather, as it tends to the exclusion of so much ligfit and air, 

 and only contributes to weaken their growth, for when this rule is 

 mechanically followed the covering is often allowed to remain on 



