117 



occasioned, probably, by Sweden and Norway remain- 

 ing covered with snow, whilst England is some 20 

 degrees or more warmer ; and an upper current of 

 warm air is consequently flowing hence to those coun- 

 tries, whilst a cold under current is rushing hither to 

 supply its place. This wind, and its consequent cold 

 weather, is so regular in its appearance, that in Hamp- 

 shire, and some other parts of England, the peasan- 

 try speak of it as " the black-thorn winter," that bush 

 being in blossom during a part of its continuance. 

 (Johnson^ s Principles of Gardening,) 



We have already noticed that very slight protection 

 is sufficient to keep the blossoms in safety. One 

 simple mode is to strain lines from the top of your 

 wall to the ground, at an angle of 20 degs., and then 

 to run haybands across from line to line at 18 inches 

 distance. There is no better protection for peaches 

 in spring. But there are many others ; spruce-fir- 

 branches, for instance. {Gard. Chron, 1846, 650.) 



Mr. Lee, of Ottery, St. Mary, Devonshire, has 

 been in the habit of protecting his wall-fruit trees, 

 during the period of flowering and setting of the fruitj 

 vrith common fern. He merely inserts the fronds of 

 the fern behind the branches, arranging them in front 

 of, and in proportion to, the length of the shoots. 

 {Gard, Mag. iv. 279.) 



Netting is used in a very efficient manner in the 

 garden of the Horticultural Society of London, to 



