40 THE ORCHARD AND FRUIT GARDEN. 



fir branches in a pretty close plantation, set half round 

 the tree to windward, may save a crop. 



As a preservative against still hoar-frost, when it 

 seems severe enough to prove destructive, a little hay or 

 withered fern may be spread over the top of the tree. 

 These hoar-frosts are often sharp enough to do great 

 mischief, therefore do not trust them in the case of any 

 tree which is likely to bloom early, but before any 

 blossom opens, set in brushwood sticks around, a few 

 inches taller than it, and bending inward, so as to lean 

 over it, and over their tops throw fern or hay, putting 

 it so in amongst the end twigs that the wind will not 

 carry it away. 



A breadth of tiffany, or any other light fabric, may at 

 night be thrown over the top of a dwarf tree, -flowering 

 a little before our late springs render it safe, and taken 

 off in the morning, if sunshine succeeds frost. 



A temporary tent-like house, made of any light fabric 

 stretched over a light frame of wood, and fixed to the 

 place where it is wanted for the time, by stakes, may be 

 placed over early flowering trees, until the set fruit is 

 safe. "When a house of this kind is used, allowance 

 should be made for the growth of the young trees it is 

 meant to cover, as the owner will most likely not wish 

 to have a new one every year, or even every two years. 

 The roof is the important thing for keeping off frost, 

 and the sides may be covered frames, to lift up or let 

 down at pleasure, for which bits of strong leather, 

 securely nailed, will make sufficiently good hinges. 

 Houses like this might be made to take to pieces and 

 fold together flat, for packing away when not in use, 

 which would make them last a long time. 



A simple, tolerably fine netting, especially if it be 

 of wool, is often a sufficient protection to save the setting 

 fruit. 



AVith very small trees, sprays of gorse or fern may 

 sometimes be tied, so as to shelter the early blossom ; 

 but in this and all protection, care must be taken that 

 the screen used does not do harm by fretting the 

 bloom or knocking against it. 



