BOOK IV. OPERATIONS OF PROTECTION 425 



about eighteen inches below, and return in the same manner to the other end, and so on, 

 till I have reached to within eighteen inches or two feet of the ground. I have also 

 found straw ropes to be very useful in protecting other early crops from the effects of 

 frost, as peas, potatoes, or kidneybeans, by fixing them along the rows with pins driven 

 into the ground. Old herring nets, and branches of evergreens, are not so efficacious 

 as straw ropes, which, besides being much cheaper, may be obtained in every situation." 

 2210. Protecting by nets is effected by throwing either straw, hay, bass, hempen, or 

 woollen nets over standard- trees, the extreme shoots of which will support the net ; or by 

 throwing it over hooped beds, or hooped single plants of herbaceous vegetables, or fixing 

 it over the fruit-trees trained against a wall (fig. 218.), or by placing it over tender 

 flowers and botanic plants, as auricula and hydrangea, &c. by means of net frames or 

 portable cases. 



2211. The ordinary way of applying nets, Nicol observes, " is to hang them over the trees, close to 

 the branches ; the flower-buds and spurs often sticking out beyond the net. Instead of being hung on in 

 so unmeaning a manner, they should be placed out, at the distance of fifteen or eighteen inches from the 

 tree ; being kept off by hooked sticks, with their buts placed against the wall, and at the distance of 

 about a yard from each other. In order to make these stand firmly, the net should be first stretched 

 tightly on, and be fastened on all sides. By further stretching it, to the extent of fifteen or eighteen 

 inches, over the hooked ends of the sticks, it will be rendered so firm that no wind will displace it and the 

 sticks will also be made quite fast at the same time. If the nets were doubled, or trebled, and put on in 

 this way, they would be the more effectual a screen, as the meshes or openings would, in that case be 

 rendered very small." Woollen nets are deemed the best, and are now in general use in Scotland. Bass 

 nets are used in Sweden, and straw nets at the Duke of Buccleugh's garden at Dalkeith. " In screening 

 with nets of any kind," Nicol observes, "they are always to be let remain on night and day, till all danger 

 of frost be over; the trouble of putting them properly on being considerable, and there being no ne- 

 cessity for repeating such trouble, as they will in nowise injure the health of the trees, being incapable of 

 shading them very much." 



2212. Protecting by canvass or bunting screens is effected either by placing moveable 

 canvass cases over or around detached trees ; portable hand-cases over herbaceous plants; 

 tents or open sheds over the florists' productions; or frames or sheets against trees 

 trained on walls. In all cases they should be placed clear of the tree or plant, either by 

 extended, forked, or hooked sticks, or hooping, or any other obvious resource. " For 

 hot-walls," Nicol observes, " they should be placed about the distance of a foot at top, 

 and of eighteen inches at bottom. In using canvass or bunting screens, in either of the 

 above-mentioned forms, the trees are always to be exposed to the free air and light, in 

 good weather, through the day ; screening only at night, and on bad days ; applying 

 them from the time the buds begin to open, till the fruit is fairly set, or till any fear of 

 further danger from the effects of frost be past." 



2213. Protecting by mats is the commonest of all modes for bushes, beds, and single 

 herbaceous plants. Sometimes also screens of mats sewed together, or bound in frames, 

 are applied to fruit-trees, either singly or in frames, or on hooks and pegs. Nicol 

 considers that they are " in no way so good, effectual, or ultimately so cheap screens as 

 those of canvass." 



2214. Protecting by straw and litter is effected in herbaceous plants by laying it 

 round their roots, as in the artichoke, asparagus, &c. ; or covering the tops of seedlings, 

 which was formerly done, in cultivating the cucumber and melon, and is still practised 

 by market-gardeners in raising radishes and other tender salading. Straw is also 

 formed into coverings of various sorts for frames ; screens for projecting from walls ; 

 and cones for bushes, herbaceous plants, and beehives. 



2215. Protecting by oiled paper frames is effected on exactly the same plan and prin- 

 ciple as that by bunting or canvass screens. " Frames covered with oiled paper have 

 been successfully employed at Grangemuir garden in Fifeshire. The frames are of 

 wood, inch and half square, with cross bars mortised into the sides. To give support to 

 the paper, strong packthread is passed over the interstices of the frames, forming meshes 

 about nine inches square. Common printing (or unsized) paper is then pasted on ; and 

 when this is quite dry, a coating of boiled linseed-oil is laid on both sides of the paper 

 with a painter's brush. These frames are placed in front of the trees, and made move- 

 able, by contrivances which must vary according to circumstances. If the slope from the 

 wall be considerable, a few triangular side frames may be made to fit the spaces. At 

 Grangemuir, the frames are not put up till the blossoms be pretty well expanded ; till 

 which time they are not very apt to suffer from spring frosts or hail showers. In 

 this way, it may be remarked, there is much less danger of rendering the blossom 

 delicate by the covering, than if it were applied at an earlier period. The paper frames, 

 if carefully preserved when not in use, will endure for a good many years, with very 

 slight repairs." 



2216. Protecting copings and horizontal shelters, mentioned by Miller and Laurence, 

 are used chiefly with a view of preventing the perpendicular cold. They are projected 

 generally from the top, but in lofty walls, also from the middle, and remain on night 

 and day during the cold season. When there is only a temporary coping, it is recom- 

 mended by Miller and others to be hinged, and to have strings hanging down from 



