APRIL.] SCREENING BLOSSOMS. 225 



er, both by the bristliness of the material, and its 

 constant tendency to contract* Further, by its at- 

 tracting moisture, such as cold dews, and hoar-frost, 

 the bloom was wonderfully safe, and very snug in- 

 deed, through means of so simple a contrivance. 



At the time I saw this net, (I think in April or 

 May 1805), these industrious ladies had wove as 

 much as covered a wall above a hundred yards in 

 length, and twelve feet high, and intended weaving 

 three times as much, for the other walls of their 

 brother's garden. The net was set out with hooked 

 sticks, exactly as directed above ; and the bloom on 

 the different trees was strong, healthy, and beautiful, 

 though the weather at the time was very cold and 

 frosty. 



In screening with nets of any kind, they are al- 

 ways to be let remain on, night and day, till all 

 danger be over ; the trouble of putting them pro- 

 perly 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. 



Of destroying Insects on Fruit-Trees and Bushes. 



Destroying insects that infest fruit-trees, and now 

 begin to make their appearance, is a very urgent 

 and necessary duty. 



The aphides, or green flies, are very destructive 

 insects, and very much annoy apricots, cherries, 

 peaches, plums, currants, gooseberries, and other 

 fruits. The aphis begins his depredations very early, 

 often attacking the leaves while yet unexpanded, 



