592 Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



and on destroying these Vermin. By Mr. Wm. Irving, Gardener 

 to Sir John C. Swinburn, Capheaton. Read June 11. ISl'i. 



Peaches and Nectarities. — Tlie walls are ] 2 ft. high ; the 

 borders 18 in. deep of strong clay, and 18 in. of light soil 

 mixed and placed over a bottom of 6 in. of stones and lime- 

 rubbish. The trees are trained horizontally,. because the fruit 

 on trees so trained is thought to be larger and better fla- 

 voured. But fan-training is preferred for handsomeness of 

 appearance, and easy regulation of the tree. After the winter 

 pruning, the trees and walls are washed over with a mixture 

 consisting of 2 lbs. of flour of sulphur, 1 lb. of soft soap, and 

 a few gallons of water ; the whole boiled together, and thinned 

 by water till it will pass through a syringe. 



" Our canvass screens are made very neatly : they are all 

 joined together with a wall-plate at top and another at bot- 

 tom, and the rafters are all mortised into them ; these rest on 

 spikes of wood driven into the border, and the sheets are 

 lashed to small beams at top and bottom. They are 20 ft. 

 long, draw up with pulleys, and are lashed together with 

 small cord, which makes a handsome cover, almost as good 

 as glass. It has been very much admired by several gentle- 

 men, who got models from it." 



Screening Blossoms. — Fern is gathered in September, and 

 dried in an airy loft floor, taking care to keep the fronds 

 always on their flat side. " I provide some poles in the 

 young plantations, dress them, and sharpen them at the 

 thickest end; then lay them aside until they be wanted. I 

 furnish myself with some sheet or large-meshed nets ; they 

 are the cheapest and best for this sort of covering. In spring, 

 as soon as the blossoms begin to expand, I place my poles 

 about 4 ft. apart, and 18 in. from the wall at bottom, thrust- 

 ing the sharp end into the ground, and resting the other end 

 against the coping ; then drawing the net over them, fasten 

 it at top to the coping, and at bottom with strands of bass 

 round the poles. We then begin at the under part of the 

 net, and tuck in the fern, putting the root end in at one mesh 

 and out at the other, with the top of the fern downwards; all 

 in lines, as if slanting, so thin as merely to touch one another, 

 but allowing them to be a little thicker or closer at the top of 

 the wall. When the fern is all in, I hang another net over 

 the whole, and then make all fast to the poles at different 

 places with strands of bass. To prevent the wind from dis- 

 placing the fern, all must be done when the weather is calm, 

 for wind would be troublesome. This mode may appear to some 

 tedious ; but those who try it will find, after a short practice, 

 that it is an easy operation. Nothing more is wanted until 



