167 



Our climate is nearly as far north as 

 the peach will ripen without artilicial lieat 

 and protection, it is not to be wondered 

 at therefore that it should be so uncertain 

 as to its bearing. To counteract the bad 

 effect caused to this fruit by the change 

 of weather we are so subject to in the 

 spring, a number of means have been re- 

 commended for covering the trees over 

 in the season of blooming and setting ot 

 the fruit, such as woollen netting and 

 bunting, ( which is a kind of thin woollen 

 stuff made for flags of ships) but these, at 

 the same time they protect the tree from 

 the cold winds, require in fine weather to 

 be removed to admit a free circulation, 

 and also the sun's rays, which is attended 

 with labour. The best mode of protect- 

 ing trees, in such cases, is by affording it 

 something that may remain on without 

 the labour of changing it, and a very useful 

 and cheap covering of this kind I have 

 used with great success in the long green 

 moss found in woods (Hypnum of several 

 species.) This should be laid next the 

 10 



