128 GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION AND HEATING. 
over any plants that are nailed or trained to it, as shown 
in Fig. 84. Copings, which may be from lft. to 2ft. or 
more in width, and must be fixed on brackets, with the 
front edge some inches lower than the back, in order to 
throw off the rain, are usually, and most properly, 
constructed of a stout glazed framework, though in some 
cases a few lengths of wide board, or plank, are made to 
do duty, but as this obstructs the light to a considerable 
extent, it cannot be recommended. 
Such a plain coping protects fruit and other trees on 
walls to a considerable extent, not only from rain and hail, 
but from frost also, which usually strikes directly down- 
wards. By the way, keeping the rain off the trees thus, 
though all right at certain seasons, is by no means beneficial 
at other times, so that it is a good plan to have all such 
copings easily removable. 
But further, such a coping, if only a narrow one, enables 
ordinary garden netting, or mats, etc., to be easily hung in 
front of peach or other trees when in bloom, thus securing 
a good ‘‘set’’ even when the weather is cold or rough, as 
it too frequently is in the spring. This affords a still 
greater amount of shelter, while admitting a good deal of 
both air and light. A single or double ply of netting may 
be put up as soon as the first blooms begin to expand (but 
not before), and allowed to remain until the fruit is well 
set, and safe, with the greatest advantage, but mats, etc., 
should be removed on fine and mild or sunny days, and 
again replaced at night and when the wind is cold, or snow, 
hail, or cold rain falls. 
The addition of some spare frame-lights, or specially 
constructed sashes of suitable size, at once transforms any 
