178 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
they cannot properly elaborate it; the flow of the sap is checked, but cannot 
be stopped, in consequence of the pressure from below, and the result is seen in 
the growth of thick-fleshed abortions, commonly called curl and blister, which are 
very injurious to the well-doing of the young wood, causing it to become thick and 
compressed at the point where the leaves have suffered injury, and although in 
the process of time the sap will find itself a channel through these gouty excres¬ 
cences and begin a healthier development of wood, it is a question whether, the 
mischief being done, it would not be better in the end to cut the young abortive 
shoot back to its base ; and run the chance of a healthy shoot breaking out later 
in the season. This I have often known them to do, and thus in some measure 
retrieve the misfortune, particularly if the finger and thumb is kept pretty well 
at work amongst the stronger growths of the summer, so as to encourage the 
weaker later growth. These, however, are only remedies when the means and 
time at command have not been available for prevention, which is the great 
object in view; and as the Peach is a very tender tree in most parts of this 
country, this can only be satisfactorily attained by the command of efficient means 
of protection. 
Granting then, at the outset, that in most of the less favoured parts of this 
country, protection in the early stages of growth is an absolute necessity, the 
question arises, how is it best applied ? And as this is one which touches the 
pocket, it is at once obvious that it must be regulated thereby. Under strictly 
economical circumstances, there are certain hap-hazard means of catching a crop 
in an emergency, generally to be found in most places where there are plantations 
and shrubberies of any age and extent, such as the long branches of Spruce and 
silver Firs which we have occasionally found very effective when fastened to the 
top of the wall with the points hanging downwards. Yews, again, afford an 
excellent temporary protection, the flat branches being particularly well adapted 
for sticking in between the shoots and the wall with the points downwards, so as 
to lap over the young growth. These and similar appliances can, however, only 
be looked upon as temporary makeshifts, to be made use of only in the event of 
any sudden occurrence of severe frost, since they cannot be left on long without 
doing injury the other way, by rendering the young growth tender, and keeping 
out the light, which is so essential to the formation of a sturdy growth. We may 
therefore conclude that although such temporary appliances are useful in emer¬ 
gencies, they are not to be depended upon ; and that the protection afforded 
should be more permanent, and less liable to cause injury in its application, for 
which purpose it must be moveable at pleasure. Thick folds of netting, which are 
often used, are of very little use, as they cause a permanent shade ; not being movable 
very readily, they cannot even be called economical. It will therefore be right 
to conclude that glass must stand at the head of the list for protective purposes 
and although it may be most expensive at first, it is most economical in the long-run. 
I have also found stout and very thick canvas in the shape of curtains to be a 
very efficient protection. The curtains are suspended by rings on iron rods, which 
