PROTECTING FRUIT TREES. 305 



CHAPTER X. 

 Protecting Fruit Trees. 



TREES that grow against walls and flower early require 

 some protection from frost and cold winds during the 

 blossoming period. We refer to Peaches, Nectarines, and 

 Apricots more especially ; but in cold positions early Pears, 

 Plums, and Cherries are all the better for some protec- 

 tion whilst the trees are in blossom. The protection 

 should be given as soon as the flower buds begin to show 

 colour, and be continued until the fruit has set. Indeed, 

 should frosty weather prevail, it should be prolonged until 

 the latter has disappeared. 



Glass Copings. For large gardens, with high walls, 

 portable glass copings afford the most perfect and satis- 

 factory way of protecting trees in blossom. These are 

 formed of glazed sashes, 2ft. or 2ft. Gin. wide, and 6ft. 7in. 

 in length. They are made to slide in iron brackets fixed 

 in iron brackets permanently bolted to the wall. When 

 not required for protective purposes, the sashes can be 

 easily removed and used as lights for garden frames. 

 The average cost is 2s. 3d. to 2s. 8d. per foot run. By 

 means of curtain rods and metal rings, blinds can be 

 attached to the lower part of the coping, and the latter 

 drawn back by day or closed by night, as the state of the 

 weather demands. The trees are just protected from rain 

 or frost whilst in flower. (Fig. 134.) 



Canvas Blinds. A simpler method is to place stout 

 poles at intervals of 6ft., the top resting against the wall, 

 and the base on the ground 2ft. from the wall. To the 

 top of each pole affix a metal ring, and about 2ft. from 

 the ground fix a stout peg, about a foot long, in the pole. 

 To the upper side of the canvas fix rings 6ft. apart, secure 



