246 



PROTECTIOli OF rEUIT-ErSHES mOM lUllDS. 



I5Y II. IIOWI.ETT. 



Now that the fields are stripped of their 

 produce, and man, in the exercise of that 

 foresight which God lias given him, has 

 stored up his yearly supply of food, and 

 thereby deprived the feathered tribe of 

 that ready supply they so lately enjoyed, 

 we shall, as a natural consequence, soon 

 find the sparrows and linnets flocking to- 

 wards our homes aiid our gardens. Look, 

 then, to your gooseberry and currant- 

 hushes, for so soon as the leaves begin to 

 fall they will be busy, either for foo'l or 

 mischief, picking at the buds ; and so 

 thoroughly uill tliey accomjjlish what they 

 once take in hand, that we shall look in 

 Yain for fruit next summer, unless we use 

 means to ward oft' their attacks. This 

 may be done, in a considerable degree, by 

 gathering togetl'.er the branches, and tie- 

 ing them up like a i'aggot with a strong 

 ozier or hazel withe, or a piece of tarred 

 cord. Their being gathered into a close 

 bunch prevents the birds getting at the 

 greater part of the branches. They may 

 remain thus tmtil the sharp weather 



leaves tis, and the buds begin to break. 

 This is one of the simple means that cost 

 nothing, therefore may be used by every 

 one. Other and more expensive plans may 

 be adopted with, perhaps, more perfect 

 results ; but as the Flokal Wokld is 

 published principally for the purpose of 

 assisting the man of small means, we point 

 out such simijle plans in preterence to the 

 more expensive or troublesome. The next 

 in point of simplicity is to hang rags of 

 gaudy colours all over the bushes, and 

 another to bind white worsted in difierent 

 directions about them ; but the first of 

 these is highly objectionable in appearance, 

 and the second the birds soon cease to 

 regard. The best, though most expensive 

 method, is to place five or six stakes round 

 each bush, with their ends sloping over 

 the bush, so as nearly to meet at the top ; 

 then put round them old fishing-net, 

 which will both protect from birds and to 

 some extent from the spring frosts, \\hich 

 sometimes do them moi-e harm than the 

 birds. 



M'EWEN ON THE OTJT-DOOE CULTUEE OF THE PEACH. 



Whatever may he the conditions under 

 which ihey flourish in their natviral habi- 

 tat, I have found them succeed best in a 

 dry, airy situation, free from damp both 

 ■at root and branch; to require no pruning 

 but what tlie finger and thumb may effect 

 during tlie growing season ; and that they 

 Avill endure our coldest winters with im- 

 punity, if the wood is well ripened. In 

 considering the subject closely, it will be 

 found that to attempt tracing the failures 

 in peach culture to any one source is 

 futile, and that the evil in most cases 

 arise from a combination of causes, such 

 as soils, borders, pruning, kinds, etc., in 

 all of which the greatest discrimination will 

 be required, for neglect on any one point 

 may render the rest nugatory. 



As tlie making of the borders and the 

 composition of the soils are essential 

 points, I propose discussing them at once. 

 Dilferences of locality and climate will in 

 most cases regulate the condition, for out- 

 of-doors culture, as to the soil, texture, 

 and depth, and thus prevent me from 

 recommending a " universal cure ;" but 

 for in-door cultivation the necessary con- 



ditions are similar in any locality, and in 

 every case a warm soil and a dry situation 

 are imperatively necessary. Draining is 

 essential, and imparts heat to the roots, 

 by withdrawing the water from the sub- 

 soil, and admitting air into the border. 

 Drains should be from three to four feet 

 deep, being regulated by the depth of the 

 border, which may vary in particular 

 cases. They may either run through the 

 centre of the border, or along tlie front 

 where the border terminates ; in the latter 

 case, cross-drains, at intervals of twenty 

 feet, must be led into it. Concreting is 

 chiefly useful in preventing the roots irom 

 getting too deep, or into a bad subsoil. 

 An equally good plan is to cover the 

 bottom of the border with six or eight 

 inches of open rubble or broken bricks ; 

 and covering this with straw or turf, pre- 

 vious to putting on the soil, so as to 

 prevent the drainage getting choked, on 

 the same principle that a pot plant is 

 crocked with potsherds. The width of 

 the border should be regulated by the 

 height of the wall, or the space for train- 

 ing the branches of the tree. For a wall 



