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FOR THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



219 



as many fruits as there have been blossoms. The space 

 underneath is sufficient to allow the gardener to pass, 

 and to perform his various operations of disbudding, 

 pruning, and pinching without hindrance. This cover- 

 ing and the straw hurdles are laid aside for the year 

 towards the end of May, when the fruit is nearly set, 

 and there is nothing more to fear from late frosts. 



Standards, — It is much more difficult to protect 

 standard fruit trees. The only practicable method of 

 doing so consists in fixing upon the branches, imme- 

 diately after the pruning, handfuls of dry fern or straw, 

 so that each branch may be protected to its full extent. 

 Or the tree may be covered all over with canvas, like 

 that just described. To protect cordons, double or 

 vertical, we can stretch the canvas horizontally at the 

 top; :tnd fix it with wire, to be taken off* towards the 

 end of May. 



Shading, — Espaliers, and especially stone fruits, are 

 exposed in all their green surfaces to such a powerful 

 evaporation, that the roots cannot supply the loss of 

 humidity that takes place. Besides this, their position 

 deprives them in a great measure of the benefits of 

 the night dews, little as they may be, during the great 

 heats of summer. 



Unless protected in some way, many trees will then 

 perish, as we may say from sunstroke. To prevent 

 this, they must be watered freely, and the foliage be 

 well syringed three times a week. 



The heat of the sun is not less injurious to the bark 

 of the stems of espaliers, most of all to the part not 

 protected by the leaves. It hardens the bark so that it 



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