156 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



covering serves two purposes, i. e. protecting the trees from the 

 effects of frost, and from excessive heat in the summer. 



The posts are 3x4 redwood, 18 feet long. The trees are so 

 planted that the posts are placed 21 feet 3 inches apart 

 each way, setting them 3 feet in the ground, thus allowing 

 about 15 feet in the clear for height of the trees, which is suf- 

 ficient for most Navel trees. These posts are connected by 

 pieces of 1x4 pine suitably braced, on top of which another 

 strip of 1x4 has been securely nailed to prevent the whole 

 from swaying sideways with the weight of the cover. This, 

 when placed in position, is braced horizontally with braces of 

 1x3 pine, 7 feet long. Thus is secured a framework that is 

 quite rigid and on which a man may walk freely, provided he 

 has a head clear enough to walk on a four-inch strip. 



Over this were stretched galvanized iron wires, diagonally, of 

 No. 11 wire, which are securely stapled on top of each post and to 

 the horizontal braces. These diagonal 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 increase 

 weight on the bents of 1 x 4 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 

 laths were used, being the lightest and best for the purpose, and 

 were wove on a lath machine into common chicken fencing, 

 placing the lath one inch apart and weaving 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 framew r ork 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 2L 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 laths 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 the present season was 

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

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



