16 FRUIT TREES IN POTS [ch. 



also be found invaluable for protecting plums 

 during the winter and early spring. 



This structure can be either in the form of a 

 square, a span, or a lean-to, with supports suffi- 

 ciently strong to support galvanized wire-netting. 

 This netting should be a |-in. mesh, as this will 

 set the enemies of the above-mentioned fruits at 

 defiance. The chief foes of the apple and pear are 

 tomtits, whilst the worst enemy of plum trees is 

 the bullfinch. 



Nothing can be more annoying and discourag- 

 ing than to find the choicest specimens of apples 

 and pears punctured by tomtits. It is certain 

 that the best specimens will suffer. Instinct 

 seems to guide the birds in their selection of the 

 best. 



Plums will be sure to suffer more or less 

 during the winter, especially in severe weather, 

 from the attack of bullfinches, as these birds are 

 very fond of the bloom-buds of plums, and if 

 unchecked, they will deprive the tree of a vevj 

 large percentage, and so cause a small crop. 



Whatever form the wire house may take, it 

 will be covered with wire-netting instead of glass. 

 It will do excellent service if used as follows. 

 When the pot-trees of pears and apples have 

 passed through their period of protection in the 

 glass house, they should be placed out-of-doors. 



