COPINGS. 



124 



CORONILLA. 



ground at a sufficient distance in front of 

 the wall. The canvas covering permits 

 the light and air and warmth to pass ; the 

 vegetation is uninterrupted, but the protec- 

 tion is sufficient to exclude the strongest 

 spring frosts. 



Warmth afforded by Coping. Mr. Gorrie, 

 a well-known and experienced horticul- 

 turist, 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 advan- 

 tage 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. 



Shelters inform of Copings. Among the 

 causes of barrenness to which fhe Rev. John 

 Lawrence, one of our oldest and best 

 writers on fruit trees, directs attention are 



FIG. 10. LAWRENCE'S METHOD OF PROTECTING 

 FRUIT TREES. 



cold seasons, but especially frosts and 

 blasts in the spring. Having recourse to 

 mats, although sometimes successful, has 

 many objections, which put him .to con- 

 sidering some more efficient remedy, and it 

 occurred to him that horizontal 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 proposes 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." 



Corn Salad. 



This ingredient for salad, which is also 

 known as <( lamb's lettuce," may be had 

 all the year round by sowing in February 

 and March for use in summer, and in 

 September for winter use and for early 

 spring. Sow in drills, about 6 inches 

 apart, in light, rich soil, in a warm situa- 

 tion. The leaves should be eaten when 

 they are young and tender. If the plants 

 show any tendency to run to seed, it is 

 better to take them up and pick off such 

 leaves as may still be eatable, unless it be 

 desired to save seed. 



Coronilla (a/. ord. Legmnino'sse.). 



Handsome free - flowering half-hardy 

 shrub, with silvery-looking foliage, and 

 pretty yellow flowers dispersed in little 

 tufts like coronets ; easily cultivated from 

 cuttings, growing freely in a mixture of 

 peat and loam, and succeeding well against 

 a south wall with a little winter protection. 

 It is one of the prettiest shrubs that can be 

 found for wall decoration and for use in 

 the conservatory. 



