160 STATE BOARD OF HORTICFLTURE. 



covering serves two purposes, i. e., protecting the trees from the 

 effects of frost, and from excessive heat in the summer. 



The posts are 3x4 redwood, 18 feet long. The trees are so 

 planted that the jjosts are placed 21 feet 3 inches apart each 

 way, setting them 3 feet in the ground, thus allowing about 15 

 feet in the clear for height of the trees, which is sufficient for 

 most Navel trees. These posts are connected by pieces of 1 x 4 

 pine suitably braced, on top of which another strip of 1 x 4 has 

 been securely nailed to prevent the whole from swaying side- 

 ways with the weight of the cover. This, when i^Iaced in 

 position, is braced horizontally with braces of 1 x 3 pine, 7 feet 

 long. Thus is secured a framework that is quite rigid and on 

 which a man may walk freely, provided he has a head clear 

 enough to walk on a four-inch strip. 



Over this were stretched galvanized iron wires, diagonally, of 

 No. 11 wire, which are securely stapled on top of each post and 

 to the horizontal braces. These diagonal wires are stretched 

 very tight with iron stretchers, and throw a portion of the 

 weight of the cover on to posts directly that would otherwise 

 be borne by the pieces of 1x4 pine, 21 feet 3 inches long. 

 These diagonal wires are supplemented by wires running across 

 the framework at right angles to the direction in which the 

 cover is laid. These four wires — two diagonal and two cross 

 wires — steady the whole construction and distribute the weight 

 more evenly. 



Thus is the framework completed. For the cover Arizona 

 laths were used, being the lightest and best for the purpose, 

 and were wove on a lath machine into common chicken fencing, 

 placing the lath one inch apart and weaving with six wires — 

 three double strands. This is made in sections 21 feet 3 inches 

 long and rolled up preparatory to being taken to cover. In 

 covering the framework four rolls made of four-foot lath and 

 one roll of five-foot lath are used, thus filling out the space 

 over each tree of 21 feet 3 inches as nearly as is necessary. It 

 takes 100 lath to each roll, or 500 to each tree; and as the trees 

 are planted 100 to the acre, 50,000 laths are required to the 

 acre. This Arizona lath is cheaper than ordinary pine in that 

 part of the State. 



The crop of fruit under this covering was of good size, color, 

 and quality, and while the construction of the cover could be, 

 and no doubt will be, improved upon, it has proved of great 

 benefit as built. 



