THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 301 



be more than sufficient to pay an ample interest on the outlay and 

 the additional labour necessary in the management of the trees. 



There are, of course, general matters to be considered before pro- 

 ceeding to the erection of glass houses on an extensive scale, and one 

 of the most important points is the large outlay involved in the first 

 instance. It is quite impossible to make sure of a good crop of 

 such fruits as peaches and nectarines in our capricious climate 

 without the aid of glass houses, but much yet remains to be done in 

 the protection of the trees by means of temporary shelter. Pro- 

 tective materials as generally applied do more harm than good, and 

 the fact that it is of the highest importance to maintain the flowers 

 in a dry state, whilst at the same time avoiding an interference with 

 the circulation of air, is ignored. In the case of wall trees, there is 

 little difficulty in keeping the flowers safe from frost, as broad copings 

 fixed to the top ot the wall, aided with canvas so arranged that it 

 can be put on or taken off" without much difficulty, will accomplish 

 the desired end. It is of little consequence whether the coping is 

 made of thin boards or glass ; the latter is in some respects preferable, 

 but it is comparatively costly, and more expensive to maintain in 

 good condition because of the inevitable breakages. These copings 

 are needful not only foi* apricots, peaches, and nectarines, but also 

 for pears, plums, and cherries. Pears are of high value, because of 

 their being in splendid condition when none of the sofc fruits are 

 available tor the dessert, as well as earlier in the season, when they 

 are abundant. 



The sudden outbursts of hot weather, alternating with periods 

 of cold, sharp frosts, and easterly winds, very forcibly illustrated 

 the advantages which may be derived from shading the trees pre- 

 vious to their flowering during outbursts of brilliant sunshine. 

 By means of a moderate amount of shade the flowering of the trees 

 may undoubtedly be retarded considerably, and the risk of the 

 bloom being destroyed by frost materially reduced. The season has 

 certainly aff'orded us the lesson that, by the adoption of some 

 system of shelter by which the flowers can be kept dry, a fair crop 

 can be insured with a tolerable degree of certainty. 



The season has been by no means favourable to the vegetable 

 crops, especially of the choicer kinds, such as peas and cauli- 

 flowers, yet in gardens where the quarters have been prepared in 

 the manner so frequently advised in these pages, moderate crops of 

 even these things have been obtained. But of many vegetables 

 there was a comparative scarcity, and at one time during the 

 summer kidney beans, spinach, and cabbages, realized prices in 

 Covent Garden that must have brought a '"good penny " to those 

 who were fortunate enough to have good crops. Amongst the 

 vegetables which have produced good crops are Trench Beans, 

 Vegetable Marrows, Tomatoes, and Lettuce. Potatoes and 

 French Beans are essentially dry weather vegetables ; and 

 although Mr. Berkeley stated at a recent meeting of the Koyal 

 Horticultural Society that the trial of French beans in the 

 Society's garden at Chiswick had been abandoned owing to the 

 partial failure of the crops, owing to the dry weather, yet no veget- 



October. 



