38 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 



branches when they become, as they often do, too numerous and crowded. The 

 same end may be attained in an easier and better way by disbudding or thinning 

 out the shoots in spring, which is not so commonly practised as it ought to be. 



Protecting the Blossom. — It is a race between the cherry and strawberry 

 as to which shall gladden the heart of man with the first hardy fruits of the year, 

 and from my long experience and results of observation I scarcely know to which 

 to award the palm. I am led to make these remarks by the fact of the cherry 

 being an early fruiter, and therefore early in bloom, and exposed to the frosty 

 and inclement weather of early spring that is so disastrous to many of our hardy 

 fruits ; therefore, the question of protection for the preservation of the blossom 

 becomes an important one. In the case of the cherry it so happens that the 

 tree produces bloom in such abundance, certainly in much greater quantity 

 than any other hardy fruit tree, that its profusion serves in a measure as a pro- 

 tection against frost. As a matter of fact, unless the frost happens to be unusually 

 severe, enough bloom escapes (certainly in four seasons out of five) to provide an 

 ample crop of fruit, so that no provision in the way of canvas blinds or other 

 covering is necessary. I am now speaking of wall trees. In the open 

 the same immunity is not enjoyed, and consequently full crops are not so 

 common. As regards thinning the fruit, I advise this to be carried out sparingly, 

 and only resorted to when the trees are bearing an extraordinary crop, and then 

 only for the sake of the tree rather than from any inability to mature the crop 

 satisfactorily. With generous and intelligent treatment in the way of mulch- 

 ing, watering, and keeping clean, 

 the cherry is capable of bearing 

 and ripening immense crops every 

 er-^ year. 



Protection from Birds. — In 

 the case of the cherry protection 

 from birds is imperative, and when 

 the trees are grown on walls this 

 is easily provided. Herring nets 

 are the best for the purpose, and 

 these are now offered at so cheap 

 a rate, and last so long if carefully 

 stored in a dry state during the 

 winter, that they are even within 

 reach of the cottager. The best 

 way of fixing a net against a wall 

 is to make a skeleton framework 

 of stout poles and laths, the poles 

 to be 6 feet long and driven into 

 the ground deeply enough to be 

 secure, at a distance from the wall of 6 feet, and about 6 feet apart. On the 

 tops of the poles laths must be fixed, and resting on these, at intervals of 6 feet, 

 others must be placed with one end resting on the top of the wall, acting as 

 rafters to carry the net. By this simple means absolute protection is afforded, 



A Spur become Elongated and Crowded by 

 Annual Growth 



(/) Point of shortening at winter pruning. 



