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CHAPTER XIII. 



Protecting the bloom of wall trees. 



Various are the means employed to pre- 

 serve the bloom of fruit trees from the inju- 

 rious effects of frost and severe cold winds, a 

 great many of these contrivances do a deal 

 more harm than good. Amongst the num- 

 ber of practises are the following : some per- 

 sons use branches of fir, yew, fern, or broom, 

 by fastening them to the walls or branches 

 of the tree so as to cover the bloom, and thus 

 protect it; but a great deal of blossom is apt 

 to be brushed off by them, when the wind 

 blows them about. Besides when put on so 

 thick as to be able to protect the bloom from 

 frost, it is generally too thick to admit a 

 suitable portion of light and air to it, and 

 for want of it the bloom or young fruit fre- 

 quently withers and drops off; the young 

 wood too is always much weaker. It is also 

 very difficult and troublesome to get new 

 branches every year, which require a good 

 deal of time and care in fixing them against 

 the trees, and likewise in taking them down 

 again. 



If one of the above kinds of covering is to 

 be used, broom is a great deal preferable to 



