MARCH] THE FRUIT GARDEN. 229 



of fruit-trees which have shown symptoms of decay, in order to 

 attempt their restoration to health and bearing, see the Orchard this 

 month. 



PRESERVING THE BLOSSOMS AND YOUNG FRUIT OF WALL AND 

 ESPALIER TREES. 



It often happens, that at too early a period in spring, we have a 

 forward and untimely vegetation, which throws our early blooming 

 fruit-trees, especially those in warm situations, into a full blow of 

 blossoms, which, if afterwards attacked by frost, proves their destruc- 

 tion. In such cases some of the choicer kinds of wall and espalier 

 trees should be defended therefrom with mats, &c. 



The mats for this purpose should be of the largest size; one end 

 of them should be fastened with nails or hooks to the top of the wall, 

 and let them hang down over the trees. The lower end of the mat 

 should also be fastened down to prevent their being blown to and fro 

 by the wind, which would beat the blossoms off. 



When the weather is mild the mats should be taken off, for it is 

 only at night, in sharp frosts and cutting frosty winds, that the blos- 

 soms require to be thus sheltered. 



Or, to preserve the blossoms and young fruit, you may occasion- 

 ally stick the trees with the cuttings of hardy evergreen trees and 

 shrubs, sticking them between the branches in a somewhat spreading 

 manner, so as the leaves may afford some protection to the blossom, 

 and which I have found to be often very serviceable. 



This should also be done just when the trees are coming into blos- 

 som, having cuttings of the shoots and small branches of laurel, yew, 

 pine, and some other hardy evergreens, preserving the leaves to them, 

 and being placed between the branches in the manner before ob- 

 served, so as to shelter those which are in blossom ; they must be 

 permitted to remain constantly till the fruit is fairly set as big as 

 large peas. 



PLANTING FRUIT-TREES. 







Fruit-trees of all kinds may be planted any time this month when 

 the weather is open, with success, but the sooner in the month the 

 better, before they begin to shoot ; they will now take root in a short 

 time, and with the assistance of a little water in dry weather, will 

 grow freely. 



Let every kind be planted at proper distances, both for espaliers 

 and walls, and also in standards, that they may have room to grow 

 without interfering with each other in the course of a few years ; 

 which is often the case in many gardens, more particularly with wall 

 trees and espaliers. 



Peaches, nectarines, and apricots should never be planted nearer 

 than fifteen feet asunder, against walls or espaliers; nor need they be 

 planted more than eighteen or twenty feet distant. 



Apples and pears, for walls and espaliers, should be planted fifteen 

 to eighteen or twenty feet asunder ; but, in some cases, twenty-five 



