ie/^3^5 
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF PEOTECTING THE STEMS OF APRICOTS. 47 
the ground level to the coping ; but ten feet will be found the most useful height for general piu-- 
poses. "V^Tiere the area of the garden is flat, the appearance is much improved by raising the 
wall, on the north side, a foot or two higher, canyiug the rise round the north-east and north-west 
angles, and finishing with a cavatto or tm-ret, in character with the arehitectm-e of the place. Not 
that I would recommend too much architectural display, to which fitness and propriety are fre- 
quently sacrificed by architects and builders ; but the style of architectm-e adopted in the mansion, 
ought to pervade its appendages, or a bizarre and mean appearance wiU be the result. Thus, on the 
simplest plan, the garden doors should be supported by a couple of pilasters or pillars engaged. But 
where Gothic architecture is adopted, a buttress may be made to support each angle, adding both to 
the beauty and utility of the wall. 
A coping is essential to the preservation of the waU fi-om the effects of weather, at the same time, 
it much improves its appearance. One of the most simple and efficient that I have seen, is used 
by Mr. Walker, Preskilly Gardens, Pembrokeshire, this is made of slate flags, a couple of inches 
thick, bevelled off to thi-ee-quarters of an inch at the edges, and projecting two inches on each side. 
These projections, as before stated, greatly enhance the conservative power of the wall. Training 
is generally effected by naUing with shreds, but is attended with this evU, — the wall, after a few years, 
becomes so fuU of holes, that destructive insects, such as earwigs, and wood-lice, find ample shelter 
therein. It has, therefore, been attempted to remedy the evil by fitting wii-es along the face of the wall, 
on which the trees are ti-ained. Unfortunately, in tliis case, a space intervenes betwist the trees and 
the wall, where the heated air escapes at the small angle of divergence, in consequence of the greater 
lightness, caused by the rarefication of the air, while the constant flowing in of the denser and colder 
ail- to supply the place of that escaped, produces a current which completely destroys the forcing 
power of the wall. I therefore come to the conclusion, that the only eligible mode of training trees, on 
an open wall, is by nails and shreds. For the piu'pose of destroying the larva3 of insects, I miv quick- 
lime, as for whitewash, adding an equal quantity of soot, so as to make a thick wash. With this I wash 
over the walls and trees every winter, at the time when I unnail and train them. This, with attention 
to pointing the walls with good cement, when they require it, will keep them in good order. 
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF PROTECTING THE STEMS OF APRICOTS. 
By Mk. henry BAILEY, C.M.H.S., Gakdesee, to G. Hakcodrt, Esa., Nuneham. 
THE Apricot is a fi-uit which is generally held in high estimation, and 'it is certainly well worth a 
little extra trouble and attention to secure a crop. But under the best management, how often do 
we see the finest trees dying away — fii'st a branch, next a whole side, and so on — tUl scarcely a 
vestige of the tree is left. Philosophers and Gardeners have been equally at a loss to account for tins 
seemingly sudden paralysis, which generally occm's on fine wai-m, sunny days in Spring and early 
Summer. The Moorpark variety is more particularly subject to this affection, and this is the more 
grievous as it is om' most excellent variety. 
I believe that the mischief is occasioned by frost. Apricots upon south waUs are soon excited by a 
few sunny days in spring, when the sap-vessels become filled with watery sap. If in this state a 
severe frost occui's, the sap-vessels are bm-st by the freezing fluid, and consequently the whole economy 
of the plant is deranged. Some parts of the tree are injiu-ed more than others — such limbs, having 
consumed the sap which was inherent in them, can draw no fui'ther supply — and on the fii-st day 
when the solar infiuence is sufficient to cause excessive perspiration, they languish and die. The evidence 
of this injmy is not always manifest in the first year of its occurrence ; but, in a ratio proportionate to 
its amount, may extend to two or even more years. 
To obviate this mischief, some kind of protection seems necessary. I use nets made of sedge, with 
about four-inch meshes, taking care to envelope the bases of the main branches with the same material. 
My experience with this material has now extended over three year's, and my trees are much less 
injm-ed than formerly. 
I also find these nets a better protection for the blossoms than woollen netting or canvas, as they 
admit more air. I believe that all covei-ings which ai'e fixed, do harm by preventing the circulation 
of air when the sun is powerful. 
But whatever covering is adopted, it seems to me to be inadequate, imless imited with a flued wall. 
(I speak now of preserving the blossom in such severe Spruig fi'osts as that of April, 1849.) A greater 
amount of heat must be radiated fi'om the wall than is supphed by natui'al agencies, and its escape 
into space must be prevented by a thick covering, if we would keep out ten or twelve degrees of frost. 
