Protecting and Preserving of Fruit Trees. B53 



these irons for an iron pin with a head to go in and through the 

 stud to keep it firm. The curtain rods are made with a head 

 at one end and a screw at the other ; holes are made in the studs 

 to slip the rods through them, and a nut is put on the screw, 

 which keeps all tight. The curtains have a sheath or pocket at 

 each side similar to the under valence of a bed, to admit a lath 

 about 2 in. by three quarters of an inch. These serve to draw 

 the curtains backwards and forwards. Loops of tape are sewed 

 on at three or four places on both sides of each curtain, to slip 

 over nails in the studs, to keep it from being blown by the wind. 

 The laths are great strengthen ers to the sides of the curtains in 

 rough winds ; and, till I used them, the curtains were often torn 

 at the edges. I neither use line nor pulley, and the whole may 

 be drawn or undrawn in fifteen minutes by one person. The 

 distance the studs are from the wall, admits the sun to shine on 

 it when the curtains are undrawn ; so that no part of the tree 

 is shaded so long as to hurt it. At the top of the studs, just 

 under the coping, I have a sort of weather-board, about 9 in. 

 wide, tacked on to protect the trees from downright frosts. I 

 keep the studs, rods, irons, and weather-boarding well painted ; 

 and, when not in use, all the movable part of the apparatus is 

 put away in a dry place; and all except the curtains will last 

 nearly as long as the wall. I have a bit of lead with a number 

 stamped on it, which is nailed to each stud, and a corresponding 

 number is nailed to the wall, so that every stud is fixed in 

 its own place without difficulty ; and the curtains are all made 

 exactly of a size, so that they will fit any place. I have found 

 the curtains of great use to draw over green gage and other 

 plums just before they are getting ripe, in heavy rains, to prevent 

 them from cracking. 



About the beginning of February I have every part of my 

 peach and nectarine trees unnailed, and well washed with the 

 following composition, applying it with a paint brush to every 

 part: — 1. Soot, quicklime, Scotch snuff, and sulphur vivum, one 

 pound of each, put into a large water-pot full of soap suds and 

 urine. Let the mixture stand two or three days after stirring it, 

 and then it will be fit for use. I find this composition useful for 

 preserving the trees, as well as killing the insects ; it causes the 

 trees to look as green the summer after it has been applied, as 

 a coating of manure makes a pasture field look the summer 

 after it has been dressed. I recommended it to a neighbouring- 

 gardener ; and, as he was using it, his employer advised him to 

 be cautious how he used it, till he knew it better. He left off at 

 once ; and, during the summer after, any one could see, across 

 the garden, how far the tree had been done ; for the part that was 

 done looked of a dark green, and the other a yellow colour. I 

 have not at this time an unhealthy tree in the garden ; and, 



