FRUIT-TREES. 265 



feafon IS tempeftuous and windy, then part 

 of the bloffoms and young fruit are fre- 

 quently beat down by the fhades -, yet, not- 

 withftanding the difadvantage, I have ob- 

 ferved more fruit generally upon trees that 

 have been fhaded, than thofe expofedto the 

 weather, though againft the fame wall: 

 I always found the branches before men- 

 tioned preferable to matts for fhading 

 fruit-trees, and that they w^ere applied 

 with the rnoft fuccefs, provided they could 

 be fo fixed as not to be difplaced by the 

 winds. 



After the trees have once been accuftom- 

 ed*to thefe fhades, it is not prudent to take 

 them away too foon; for it makes the 

 bloflbms and young fruit fomewhat ten- 

 derer than when they have been conftantly 

 expofed to the weather ; and as the fpring 

 is a very inconftant feafon, we fhould not 

 be tempted by two or three fine nights, to 

 leave the fruit unguarded, before they 

 have ftrength enough to refift any incle- 

 mency of weather, or any natural leaves 

 to fcreen them from the cold. 



Stone fruit ought to be guarded in this 



manner till they have quite (lied their 



S 4 blol^ 



