250 PROTECTING THE BLOSSOMS OF FRUIT TREES ON OPEN WALLS. 
Char-ashes, obtained by reducing the refuse above referred to, in conjunction with a 
good proportion of strong clay and green turves, is not only a capital fertiliser, but one of 
the best extirpators of insects, oftentimes so annoying to the gardener and destructive to 
his crops, whether in embryo or in the more advanced stages of growth. 
During summer, when all suitable materials are, superficially at least, in a dry state, 
is of course the best time for the preparation of charred materials, to accomplish which, the 
usual attention bestowed on heaps of burning rubbish only is required ; care being taken, 
however, to prevent reconsumption when once reduced, by forming the materials into 
several piles and well smouldering the burning mass, occasionally with clay or stiff loam. 
When quite extinguished and become cold from exposure, the charred materials should be 
placed in bins or old barrels protected from atmospheric influence and the rain ; thus 
ridding the rubbish yard of its contents, and providing one of the most useful adjuncts to 
good cultivation. 
Of the more immediate practical application, and effects of this useful material in 
cultivation, a few observations in addition to what has already been said, may not be 
considered out of place. 
Intermixed with equal portions of lime, coarse sand, soot, and pure wood ashes, it is 
excellent both from its carbonaceous and mechanical properties for drilling in, or sowing 
broad cast, with every description of crop, and this use of it is worthy of the especial 
attention of agriculturists as well as gardeners. 
The effect its employment has on the healthy germination of seeds, and the preser- 
vation and fertilisation of the embryo plants — protecting them alike from an excess of cold 
and moisture, and shielding them from the attacks of injurious insects in the ground — is 
really astonishing, and only to be appreciated by ocular demonstration of experiments, 
tried in juxtaposition with crops to which the invigorating material had not been applied. 
I believe from experience, that plants thus germinated amid elements especially con- 
genial to their embryo welfare, imbibe a constitutional vigour which (other circumstances 
being equal) they do not generally possess until the attainment of maturity ; and no small 
amount of additional health and vigour is imparted by after applications, disseminated 
broadcast over the foliage and the soil in humid weather, or before the evaporation of the 
dew, which, to say the least, goes far to the extermination of insect depredators. 
ON PROTECTING THE BLOSSOMS OF FRUIT TREES ON OPEN WALLS. 
By Henry Bailey , Nuneham Park. 
The extraordinary fluctuations of temperature to which we are liable in our insular position, 
and which appears of late years to prevail to a greater extent than formerly, frequently 
disappointing the hopes of proprietors who have gone to much expense to secure fruit ; 
and of gardeners who have anxiously and watchfully brought their trees into a fruit-bearing 
state ; have been but too sadly manifested during the month of April wdiich has just past : 
March (which succeeded to comparatively mild winter months) was bland and beautiful, 
and the young growth of the Peaches was fresh and luxuriant, when alas ! after a period 
of untimely excitement the rigours of winter revisited us in their worst form. On the 1 8th 
of that month, we had here the thermometer 10° below the freezing point. Although 
protected, the young wood of the Royal George Noblesse and Grosse Mignionne Peaches 
was completely killed, and the fruit both of Peaches and Apricots frozen through, while I 
fear, from the quantity of sap in the vessels of the Trees, serious injury must have been 
done to their whole system. Latterly, the fine growing weather which has prevailed, has 
caused the trees to push forth their new shoots, but it is to be feared that the organisation 
of them is too much deranged to allow the processes of vegetation to go on as in other 
seasons. It is also to be feared that the late growth will not be ripened sufficiently for 
next year’s bearing, in our usually sunless seasons ; Apricots, Pears, and Plums, are but (too 
