APRIL. • 103 



outside border was therefore protected by light wooden shutters covered 

 wiih asphalted felt. Mr. Tillyard is of opinion that we ought to pay 

 much more attention than is usually given, to preserve the borders of 

 late Vineries from being saturated by the autumnal rains — a hint to 

 which all good gardeners will, I am sure, give unqualified assent. 



I shall reserve for the May number of this periodical an account of 

 the admirable fruit-room here. 



Henuy Bailey. 



Nunekam, March 20. 



FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT TREE PROTECTION.— No. I. 

 I DID not intend resuming this subject at present, but as Mr. Bailey 

 has, in the last number of the Florist, attempted to fasten on me 

 opinions that are not mine, I feel called on in self-defence to offer some 

 remarks. Mr. B. says, " Many of the readers of the Florist have, 

 I make no doubt, been startled by the communications of Mr. Saul and 

 his favourite theory of thinning the spurs to give the flowers more 

 ' protecting properties,' (as Sii H. Stewart would call them), and by 

 this means to ensure crops of fruit in alternate years." When or 

 where, I beg to ask Mr. Bailey, have I recommended the thinning of the 

 spurs to ensure crops of fruit in alternate years ? I ask again when or 

 where Mr. B. found this practice recommended by me? I have 

 never advised the thinning of the spurs to ensure crops of fruit in 

 alternate years. No. If Mr. Bailey will have the kindness to read 

 my communications he will see that I have recommended the thorough 

 drainage of the land, the thinning of the spurs when too crowded, the 

 tliinning of the fruit, &c., to ensure good crops of fruit annually. Yes, 

 IMr. Bailey, annualhj, and not biennially, as you would make me say. 



I cannot conceive what Mr. B. has seen in any of my communica- 

 tions that could startle either him, or any of the readers of the Florist. 

 I have advanced nothing but what has been much better said before, 

 and by persons far better qualified for the task than my humble self 



Mr. Bailey's remarks would lead one to infer that I rejected all 

 protection, of whatever kind, under all circumstances. If Mr. B. 

 would have the goodness to look into the Florist for 1854 he will see 

 that my first article was written in defence of fruit tree protection by 

 canvas rolls and Fir branches, which Mr. Ewing designated the 

 "antiquated plan." In another article of mine, written subsequently, 

 Mr. Bailey will find these words : " When I ventured to defend this 

 plan (fruit tree protection by canvas rolls and Fir branches) I did not 

 then, nor do I now, consider it perfection ; far from it." If Mr. Bailey 

 woul i read those articles of mine, he would see tliat they were a defence 

 of coverings for wall trees, and not a condemnation of them. At the 

 conclusion of the second article above-mentioned, I said, " If the wood 

 is well ripened I would not, nor do I, use them (coverings)." Some 

 correspondents of the Florist, who advocated orchard houses and glass 

 cases tor fruit trees, in adverting to my articles on canvas rolls and Fir 

 branches, condemned these coverings as inefficient. They wanted 



