FENCES, WALLS, AND SHF.LTERS. 



89 



means of a rough canvas, such as is used by paperhangers to cover walls 

 before papering, which is attached to the projecting hurdles under the 

 coping, at B, and at foot to posts driven into the ground at an angle of 50°. 

 This canvas covering permits the light and air and warmth to pass ; the 

 vegetation is uninterrupted, but the protection is sufficient to exclude the 

 strongest spring frosts. 



210. Mr. Gorrie, a well-known and experienced horticultiu*ist, found that 

 the projecting coping added greatly to the warmth of the walls, the difference 

 being from 4° to 11° ; and it will be readily conceded that this advantage is a 

 very important one. At the same time the cost of permanent coping adds 

 greatly to the cost of the wall. Mr. Gorrie proposed to train the Ayrshire 

 rose on a projecting trellis under the coping, so as to give shelter to the fruit- 

 trees while in blossom, the rapid spring growth of this rose being favourable 

 for the purpose, while its deciduous habit admits of the full play of the wind 

 in winter. 



211. The Eev. John Lawrence, one of our oldest and best writers on fruit- 

 trees, among the causes of barrenness to which he directs attention are — cold 

 seasons, but especially frosts and hlasts in the spring. Having recourse to 

 mats, although sometimes successful, has many objections, which put him to 

 considering some more efficient remedy,* and it occurred to him that hori- 

 zontal shelters presented the one needful remedy. He experimented with thin 

 bits of board or tile, fastened to the wall, and found them to succeed to a 

 marvel, securing fruit wherever they were placed. For this purpose he pro- 

 poses to lay rows of tiles in the wall at distances regulated by the space 

 between the lateral branches of the tree, and jutting forward from the 

 plane of the wall about an inch and a half, not in continuous rows, but with 



gaps to receive the branches of the tree. By the help of these shelters, says 

 Mr. Lawrence, " even in the most difficult year, a good quantity of fruit may 

 almost be depended upon from such blossoms as are sheltered by the tiles. 

 The fruit thus sheltered from perpendicular cold and blasts I have experienced 

 to be much larger, better, and finer-tasted, than those of the same tree where 

 exposed. They are also forwarder and earlier ripe than the others." 



* '* The Pleasures and Profits of a Garden." By the Rev. Jolin Lawrence. A reTiscdl 

 and corrected edition, by the Editor. Bell & Daldy. 



