76 



WATERING TOPS. 



be placed over the end of the pipe, so that it 

 falls upon them like fine rain ; for when it is 

 allowed to fall with too much force upon the 

 young fruit, it will sometimes beat it off, or 

 injure it. 



Espalier trees should be watered as fre- 

 quently over the tops as is directed to be 

 done to their roots. 



I have occasionally had recourse to sprinkle 

 water over the tops of the trees early in the 

 morning in spring after a frosty night, in 

 order to counteract its effects upon the bloom 

 or young fruit. (See protecting the bloom of 

 fruit trees.) 



When there is not a sufficiency of soap 

 suds from the wash-house for the purposes 

 desired, a proper mixture may be made in 

 the following manner. To twelve gallons 

 of boiling water, add half a pound of soft 

 soap and stir it up until the soap is well dis- 

 solved in the water, which when cool is fit 

 for use. If when the fruit is arrived at a 

 mature state, there should be a necessity of 

 applying a good washing to the trees in order 

 to extirpate insects, (see red spider) on no 

 account apply soap suds at that time, be^ 

 cause it always gives the fruit a disagreeable 

 flavour, and clean water will answer the pur-? 

 pose equally as well. 



