CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS, &C. 147 



is questionable, except, perhaps, just when the fruit 

 is ripening off. 



The quantity of rain that falls on an ordinary 

 wall is but trifling ; and if even a light breeze of 

 wind prevail at the time, it is generally dashed 

 against the foliage in dripping, is scattered, and 

 dissipated. In short, it is quite as well for the trees 

 that there be no projection at all, if the coping be 

 fixed. A temporary coping of boards, projecting, 

 perhaps, a foot or eighteen inches, may be of service 

 to the trees in spring, while in bloom, in repelling 

 the perpendicular frosts, that are often injurious to 

 them at that time, and to the tender fruit. But 

 such frosts are less hurtful than baneful frosty winds, 

 which fall not perpendicularly, and w r hich are bet- 

 ter warded off by certain screens, to be hereafter 

 recommended for the purpose. 



The coping, to a wall, is as the roof to a house. 

 If a house be not well roofed, there can be little 

 comfort inside : so neither can a wall be in good 

 condition, or stand long, after water is allowed to 

 penetrate. The object, then, after having built an 

 expensive wall, ought to be, to place on it a neat 

 and durable coping. It ought to be neat, because 

 there the eye ranges, more than on any other part 

 of the wall. It ought to be durable, that the ex- 

 pence of erecting it be not thrown away. 



The most effectual cope is freestone. It may al- 

 so be made the most handsome. The fewer joints 

 in the coping the better. They should be neat, 

 small, and should be filled with white, or with brown 



