FRUIT CYLINDERS. 225 



XIX.— On Fruit Cylinders. By A. Forsyth, C.M.H.S., St. 

 Mary's Church, Torquay. 



(Communicated May 14th, 1853.) 



The culture of hardy fruit-trees and hardy fruit-bearing shrubs 

 is a subject of such importance, that any system of management 

 calculated to render the supply of fruit less precarious than it has 

 hitherto been, will be hailed with pleasure. 



Almost every locality has its prevailing winds, and as " the 

 wind bloweth where it listeth," it is no easy matter to keep 

 tender blossoms from being damaged by such a variable current. 



In the beautiful arrangements of nature, the blossom is wrapped 

 up for months in a scaly bud, hard and dry, allowing the cultivator 

 every facility once a year to dispose of it in any form most 

 suitable to his interest. 



In cultivating the Peach, for example, the tree is carefully 

 pruned and trained to a garden wall, and other less important 

 fruit-bearing plants are either trained to espalier rails, or grown 

 as standards. Still there are attentions paid to all of them in the 

 way of pruning, &c, so that the fruit-buds may be advantageously 

 placed as regards regularity and shelter. 



Many Pear-trees are naturally tall-growing, and pyramidal in 

 shape ; such, by different manipulations, are artfully dwarfed and 

 trained into more flat-headed forms, so as to get the blossom- 

 buds, and eventually the fruit, as much as possible under shelter. 

 Were this not done, their profitable cultivation would be 

 impracticable. 



The action of the stormy blast or of the sea breeze upon 

 ligneous plants induces a stunted growth and fruitless spray 

 upon the windward side, whereas the lee side produces healthy 

 shoots and blossoms. In the case of evergreens this is 

 particularly remarkable, and not only does one plant shelter 

 another, but one half of the same plant is thus used by 

 nature to shelter the other half. Now, if our principal hardy 

 fruits were produced upon evergreen trees or shrubs, the 

 tender blossoms would have a mantle of mature leaves to protect 

 them, but unfortunately for us they " come forth like the silvery 

 almond-flower, that blooms on a leafless bough." 



Such being the case, all sorts of appliances are pressed into the 

 service of horticulture in spring to protect the infant fruits — such 

 as glass shades, bunting shades, worsted net, old fishing-net, 



