74 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



perfectly hardy, and the protection of the flowers and the young 

 fruit is all that is needful for the cultivator to provide. In taking 

 into consideration the value of the several kinds of material available 

 for protective purposes, it will be necessary not to lose sight of the 

 fact that it is of [nearly as much importance to keep the flowers 

 dry as it is to protect them from frost. When dry, several degrees 

 of frost do them no harm, and a certain degree of dryness is et^sential 

 for a proper distribution of the pollen. It is also desirable that 

 a circulation of air should be continuously going on about the 

 flowers, and this cannot well be the case when the trees are enve- 

 loped in a covering of thick material without intermission. Thick 

 coverings are very well when they are fixed in a manner that will 

 admit of their being drawn up and down as may be desired ; but as 

 they are, comparatively speaking, expensive, and take up more time 

 every day than can well be spared, it is not likely they will ever 

 be brought into general requisition, especially in the garden of the 

 amateur. It will tlierefore not be necessary to enter into details in 

 reference to this form of protection. 



Wall-copings are most useful, for they materially check radiation 

 and assist in keeping the flowers dry. Those made of glass are pre- 

 ferable, as they can be left over the trees several weeks longer than 

 those made of wood ; but copings made of thin boards, and about 

 fifteen inches in width, answer very well, and can be recommended. 

 These copings should slope slightly, and the protecting material be 

 fixed to the edge. For amateurs, old fish-net?", which can be pur- 

 chased at the rate of about a penny per yard, answer admirably, for 

 they admit of a free circulation of air going on and at the same time 

 afford most efficient protection from the frost. It is needful to hang 

 two or three thicknesses of netting over the trees, and to prevent it 

 swaying to and fro, poles of v^ood should be fixed at intervals often 

 or twelve feet apart, and the netting hung over and be fastened to 

 them at the bottom. The poles may be let into the ground to keep 

 them steady, and lean against the coping. In case no coping is em- 

 ployed, the netting must be fastened to the top of the wall and be 

 kept away from the trees with poles as here described, or with stout 

 pieces of wood about fifteen inches in length, and having forks at 

 the end to hold the netting. There is nothing new in the use of 

 netting, although many amateurs appear to know but little about its 

 value for protecting purposes. The netting should be put over the 

 trees before the buds are expanded, and be removed as soon as the 

 trees are furnished with sufficient foliage to protect the fruit from 

 morning frost. 



Those who are not disposed to incur the expense of the netting, 

 may protect the trees with branches of the spruce-fir if available. 

 The branches should be cut up into moderate-sized portions, and 

 fastened to the wall with ordinary cast-iron wall nails. They must 

 be spread thinly over the tree, or they will, from the causes already 

 explained, do more harm than good. It is also essential to remove 

 them before the trees have made much growth, to prevent the shoots 

 being drawn out in a weakly manner. 



The bloom of bush and pyramidal apple, cherry, and pear-trees 



