GROWTH AND MATURATION OF THE WOOD OF PLANTS. 195 



holes in the bricks, in order to bring the whole to an even sur- 

 face. To conceal this patchwork the walls received a coat of 

 stone-colour, and by this means all insects are effectually smo- 

 thered ; this is repeated once in two or three years, taking care 

 not to let the material fall upon the branches. The proportions 

 of the ingredients used in forming the colour are as follows : — 

 161b. umber, 41b, ochre, 1 lb. lampblack, and 4 quarts of coal 

 tar; these are boiled together in 30 gallons of water, and applied 

 to the walls as hot as possible. To destroy any insects wliich 

 are on the trees themselves, they are painted with a mixture 

 composed of about ^ a lb. of soft soap, and li lb. of sulphur, to 

 8 gallons of water, with sufficient lime and soot to bring it to 

 the colour and consistency of darkish-coloured paint. 



The following statement shows the difference in cost between 

 copper-wire, iron-wire, and plain studs : — 



Cost per 

 sq. yard. 

 100 square yards of wall will require, on £. *. d. s. d. 



The Stud system, 5000 cast-iron studs, wt. SOlbs.l „ ^ „ ^ ,,» 

 . atlirf. . . . . . . .} C 3 .. 0| 



The Wiring system, with iron wire, 600 drilled] 



studs, 30s.; 1200 yds. iron wire (No. 12), 112> 3 2 8 .. "i 



Ihs. dit 3^d., 3-2s. Sd j 



With copper wire (No. 15), which is much neater) 

 in appearance, but will cost . . . J 



The preservation and improved appearance of the walls, and 

 tlie saving of labour effected by an outlay which is so soon re- 

 turned, should be sufficient to induce all who have walls for 

 fruit-trees to adopt the plan. I may add that many have already 

 done so, and the advantages connected with it have not fallen 

 short of their expectations. 



5 17 6 .. 1 2 



XXI. — Some Observations on the Groivth and Maturation of 

 the Wood of Plants. By George Lovell, Gardener to the 

 Marchioness of Hastings, F.H.S., at Efford House. 



That the fertility of any given plant in reference to the pro- 

 duction of flowers or fruit, or both, is in direct ratio to the de- 

 gree of perfection attained in the maturation of its branches, no 

 intelligent cultivator dreams of denying ; but in the many 

 varieties* of structure in plants with which the gardener has to 

 deal, the phenomena attendant on, and constituting the develop- 

 ment and solidification of a branch are of so diversified a charac- 

 ter, that I presume the subject is not generally well understood. 



* Of course the word is only used in the general sense, and not botani- 

 cally. 



VOL. IV. P 



