MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 37 



frofly, it will be neceffary to cover them when the flowers 

 -begin to open. Some cover the trees with yew, and others 

 with branches of fir, laurel, &c. but old netting is the beft 

 covering ; and it lhould be put on threefold, as directed for 

 Apricots. When the leaves begin to cover the fruit, and the 

 weather is likely to be fine and fettled, the netting fhould be 

 taken off by degrees, but by no means all at once. By the 

 forked flicks, as before obferved, the nets may be kept at what 

 diftance you pleafe ; but never be in too great hade to un- 

 cover the trees, nor fuffer the moots to grow through the 

 mefhes of the nets ; for* when that is the cafe, a great many 

 of them will be broken in taking off the nets. The trees 

 fhould -be uncovered in cloudy weather, or when it is likely to 

 rain ; if the nets be taken off in clear weather, the leaves are 

 liable to be hurt by the fun. Be careful, in taking off the 

 foreright and fide (hoots, not to expofe the fruit ; rub them 

 off near the extremities, leaving thofe which you want to fill 

 up the wall as low on the branch as poflible, at the. fame 

 time leaving only one for a leading {hoot. When the fruit is 

 about the fize of a fmall marble, begin to- thin them ;. which 

 operation muff be left to the judgment of the perfon who. does 

 it; but it fhould be according to the ftrength of the tree. 

 This ought to be done very regularly, that the fruit may be 

 equally difperfed over the tree. If left too thick, it will not 

 have room to fwell : this frequently happens. If the tree be 

 very ftrong, you may leave from three to fix Peaches on each 

 lhoot ; according to the ftrength and length of the branch. 



I have obferved, that where the Compofition was applied 

 to prevent the fa p. from being exhaled by the fun and air, all 

 the trees that were very much loaded with fruit were not in 

 the lean: hurt ; while the trees that were treated in the com- 

 mon 



