40 



grown for the purpose. Sea-weed may also be utilised with advantage 

 for mulching in localities where it can be readily obtained, and it has an 

 additional value because it is a material that is rich in potash. 



SHELTER. 



Shelter is of great advantage to all kinds of fruits, and particularly 

 BO as regards the Citrus family. Too often, however, no provision is 

 made for it by the cultivator. When exposed to the full effects of 

 strong harsh currents of air, many fruits suffer severely, and in various 

 ways. In the first place the trees often become stunted in growth or 

 lop-sided, and, as a rule, they do not bear so freely as when sheltered. 

 The fruit is also apt to be inferior in quality to what it would be under 

 more favourable conditions. This is more especially tho case with 

 Oranges and Lemons, which are usually coarser, and have thicker rinds 

 than when grown with shelter. Then, again, fruit is more likely to be 

 blown off the trees when growing in exposed situations. Sometimes 

 the cultivator can utilise natural shelter, but more frequently he will 

 have to make provision for it. Belts of quick growing trees with 

 dense foliage and compact in growth should be planted for the purpose 

 when necessary. Various kinds of trees may be used, such as Pinus 

 insignia, Schinus molle (Pepper tree) and Cupressus macrocarpa, which are 

 all of.strong and rapid growth. Good shelter belts can also be formed from 

 the Osage Orange, Cherry Plum, Almond and Olive, though the latter is 

 somewhat slow in growth for a year or two. Care should be taken not to 

 plant any of the trees named so that their roots will be likely to interfere 

 with those of the fruit trees, as they are all great robbers, and will soon 

 exhaust the soil. 



GUARDING AGAINST FROST. 



Among the many evils that fruit-growers have to contend with not 

 the least is the occurrence of late frosts, which often cause an incalculable 

 amount of injury. Very frequently a whole crop is suddenly destroyed 

 by this means, to the great loss, and, perhaps, ruin, of the grower. 

 Vineyards are, perhaps, more injuriously affected than orchards, and in 

 some localities losses occur very frequently. Now it should be generally 

 known that danger from frost may, in a large measure, if not altogether, 

 be avoided by adopting a practice that is generally followed in Italy and 

 other parts of Europe. This practice is to make small fires at various 

 points in the vineyard or orchard on nights when frosts are anticipated. 

 These fires are made of such materials as straw, weeds, or rubbish, with 

 a mixture of tar, the object being to obtain a dense and heavy smoke. 

 These fires are kept up till after sunrise, when all danger has passed. 

 The smoke has the effect of preventing the dew from condensing and 

 freezing upon the tender foliage and shoots, and if by chance they do 

 get touched, they are screened from the sun's power till the increasing 

 temperature causes them to thaw gradually. This precaution against 



