THE CULINARY GARDEN. 



27 



matter of question. If the coping project over the wall more 

 than from two to three inches, it will give the wall a heavy 

 appearance, and therefore we would recommend that the pro- 

 jection of the fixed or permanent coping should not exceed 

 those dimensions, and they will be found, in every respect, 

 sufficiently large to guard the walls fi^m the effects of wet. 

 Copings of greater breadth are, however, useful at certain sea- 

 sons, namely, when the buds are breaking, and while the 

 blossom is expanded, as they answer the purpose of guarding 

 them against the effects of perpendicular frosts, which would 

 be highly injurious to them at that critical period. We would 

 recommend portable or moveable copings of boards, supported 

 on brackets of iron, either built into the wall, or driven in 

 afterwards, and these brackets should be perforated with holes, 

 in order to admit of the boards being fastened down to them. 

 The breadth of such copings will vary according to the height 

 of the wall, the low ones not requiring such broad copings as 

 those that are more lofty. If the boards be twelve or fifteen 

 inches broad, they will be found sufficient for the purpose re- 

 quired. As soon as the fruit is fully set, these boards may be 

 removed and stored away in a dry place, where they may 

 remain until wanted the following spring. It is only while the 

 trees are coming into blossom, and while they remain in that 

 state, that these copings are of use ; their removal after that 

 time will be advantageous to the ti-ees, by allowing the dews 

 and rains of summer to fall freely upon them. If the trees be 

 kept dry whil in bloom, the frost will not act so severely on 

 them, upon the principle that all vegetables i'2Mst the effects 

 of frost, in proportion to the dryness in which they are kept. 



The permanent or fixed coping is intended for the protection 

 of the walls, and should be so constructed as to insure the 

 accomplishment of that end. For this purpose, nothing is so 

 good as stone pavement, it being found of greater lengths than 

 bricks or tiles, and the greater the length of such pieces, the 

 fewer joints will be necessary, which is in itself important. 

 Their durability is also great, and they present a neater ap- 

 pearance to the eye than those of any other material. In those 

 places, where stone is expensive, bricks should be procured of 

 different descriptions, intended for wall copings, and if laid in 



