374 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



onal wires are stretched very tight with iron stretchers, 

 and throw a portion of the weight of the cover on to posts 

 directly that would otherwise be borne by the pieces of 

 1x4 pine, 21 feet 3 inches long. These diagonal wires are 

 supplemented by wires running across the framework at 

 right angles to the direction in which the cover is laid. 

 These four wires two diagonal and two cross wires 

 steady the whole construction and distribute the weight 

 more evenly. 



Thus is the framework completed. For the cover 

 Arizona lath were used, being the lightest and best for the 

 purpose, and were woven on a lath machine into common 

 chicken-fencing, placing the lath one inch apart and weav- 

 ing with six wires three double strands. This is made in 

 sections 21 feet 3 inches long and rolled up preparatory 

 to being taken to cover. In covering the framework four 

 rolls made of four-foot lath and one roll of five-foot lath 

 are used, thus filling out the space over each tree of 21 

 feet 3 inches as nearly as is necessary. It takes 100 lath 

 to each roll, or 500 to each tree; and as the trees are 

 planted 100 to the acre, 50,000 lath are required to the 

 acre. This Arizona lath is cheaper than ordinary pine in 

 that part of the State. 



The crop of fruit under this covering was of good 

 size, color, and quality, and while the construction of the 

 cover could be, and no doubt will be, improved upon, it 

 has proved of great benefit as built." 



