Planting Fruit Trees on poor Soils. 323 



along the wall till the whole is covered : any small vacancies 

 remaining uncovered are also filled up by nailing in a few of 

 the small branches formei'ly cut off. Three pieces of rope 

 yarn are then run along the wall, one of them near the bot- 

 tom, another along the middle, and one near the top. The 

 rope yarn is fastened by nails, at every 5 ft. or 6 ft., to keep 

 the birch in its place and close to the wall. When all is 

 finished, the small spray projects about 1 ft. from the wall, 

 affording sufficient protection to the blossom against frost 

 during the night, and also a partial shade from the scorching 

 sun during those clear and hot days in March and April which 

 frequently succeed cold and frosty nights at that season, and 

 whicli even do more injury during the day to peach and nec- 

 tarine trees Upon south walls, in low situations, than the frost 

 does during the night. The birch also prevents a current of 

 air from passing along the surface of the wall ; whereas, if 

 canvass or other close covering be used, however closely it may 

 be fitted to the wall at the two extremities, it always has a 

 current of air passing between it and the wall. The birch is 

 put up before the blossoms open, and is not removed before 

 the latter end of May or beginning of June, according to the 

 state of the weather at that time. When once the birch is 

 got ready, the walls are covered as soon as they could be with 

 netting, and the birch is removed in much less time than net- 

 ting could be taken down. Where birch cannot be procured, 

 hazel would be a tolerable substitute for it.. 



I am. Sir, yours, &c. 

 Bui-y Hill Gardeti, Feb. 13. 1831. David Cameron. 



Art. XXIV. 0?i planting Fruit Trees on poor Soils and in 

 exposed Situations. By iNIr. Robert Hiver. 



Sir, 

 In these times of distress, it becomes the proprietor of 

 every piece of land to make the most of it ; and it is the duty 

 of those possessed of knowledge or experience in farming or 

 gardening, to show to others how it may be cultivated to the 

 best advantage. Under this consideration, I have been in- 

 duced to send you some observations relating to situations 

 very suitable for orchards, which have been hitherto con- 

 sidered the most inimical for the purpose. I fear that it is 

 difficult to write any thing for the Magazine that will, give 

 satisfaction, and many may reject what I am now going to 

 recommend ; but let it be remembered that a single truth is 



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