142 COVERINGS — SHADING. 



delicate kinds of wall-fruit, peaches, &c. ; and the 

 upright mode for vines and figs. But though these 

 different fruit trees are trained in the ways above 

 mentioned, in most well-kept gardens, the rule is 

 not arbitrary ; because a clever pruner and trainer 

 can put any tree in almost any shape or order he 

 pleases. 



Protecting the early Flowers of Fruit Trees. 

 Almost all our wall-fruit trees put forth their 

 blossoms early in the year, and before night frosts 

 are over. On the protection of the flowers in that 

 season, all chance of a crop depends. Many different 

 kinds of temporary coverings are in use — as old 

 fisherman's nets, the old colours of ships, woollen 

 netting made for the purpose, oiled paper screens, 

 thin canvass curtains, and small twigs of evergreen 

 trees, as well as moveable copings. 



When netting is employed, whether made of hemp 

 or woollen, it remains over the trees during the 

 whole season when frost may be expected. Nets 

 certainly repel a considerable degree of frost, as the 

 downright direction of the cold air is warded off by 

 the similar position of the net. Ships' colours, or 

 the material (bunting) of which they are made, make 

 excellent defences against frost ; being so light, 

 durable, and easily put up or taken down. Pannels 

 of oiled paper fixed in grooved ledges are sometimes 

 used. One ledge is fastened to the wall above the 

 tree, and the other is fastened to stumps in the 

 ground : the pannels are placed on at night, and 



