1850. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
43 
She ©orticttltnral Department. 
CONDUCTED BY J. J. THOMAS. 
Horticultural Implements and Fixtures. 
The economical horticulturist, who has ingenuity 
enough to do with his own hands, what is usually 
assigned to the carpenter, may be advantageously 
employed during winter, in adding to his implements 
and structures. A few suggestions under this head 
we hope may be acceptable at this season. 
Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. 
Supports for Climbing Plants, are often con¬ 
structed as shown by Fig. 1, being made of durable 
wood and painted green or white. An improve¬ 
ment on this form is made by attaching the smaller 
or connecting strips in' such a manner as firmly to 
brace the whole together, and at the same time to 
add to the appearance, which is of some conse¬ 
quence until the frame is wholly covered with ver¬ 
dure—figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 3 represents only one 
of the three sides of the frame. 
We gave in a former number of this paper, 
(p. 277, 1849,) a figure and description of a very 
simple and substantial support for climbing roses, 
made by boring holes at short intervals through a 
single, neat upright post. Through these holes, 
the long flexible stems are 
made to pass as they ascend in 
growth, at the same time run¬ 
ning them in a twining direc¬ 
tion around it. But a difficul¬ 
ty exists with tender roses and 
other tender climbers, as the 
grandiflora, &c. This is obvi¬ 
ated by means of the annexed 
contrivance, which allows the 
prostration of the support with 
all its load, every autumn, for 
covering it as it lies upon the 
ground. A short substantial 
post of red cedar or other du¬ 
rable wood is inserted into the 
ground, projecting a foot or 
more above it, fig. 4, in which 
a space (a) is cut for the re¬ 
ception of the support. The 
latter is kept firmly in its place 
in an upright position, by 
means of the two pins, b. b., 
fig. 5. On the approach of 
Fig. 6. 
winter, the up¬ 
per pin is with¬ 
drawn, which 
allows the sup¬ 
port to be laid 
Fig. 4. 
Fig. 5. 
flat upon the ground for covering, as in fig. 6. 
Fruit Ladders. —Convenient 
fruit-ladders greatly facilitate 
the gathering of fruit, prevent 
its becoming bruised, and save 
it from mutilation by chafing. 
A very simple, cheap, and con¬ 
venient self-sustaining ladder, 
is represented in fig. 7, the legs 
Fig* 7. and cross rods of which may 
b© about the size of, or slightly larger than those 
of a common chair. The small plank platform at 
the top may be 6 by 9 inches. The 
whole may be about 3 feet high, 
and will be nearly as light as an 
ordinary chair, and it will be found 
extremely useful among the smal¬ 
ler trees, or for the lower parts of 
full-grown ones. 
The form represented in figure 
8, having two folding legs, like 
those of a tripod, turning on joints, 
may be from 6 to 10 feet high. 
An improvement of the latter has been made by 
continuing the two sides 
of the ladder to a point, 
a, fig. 9, which the more 
readily enables the opera¬ 
tor to thrust it up among 
the branches, and often 
enables him to support 
himself by holding to it. 
The legs turn at the 
hinges, b., and may be 
folded up to the ladder 
when not in use, as in the 
preceding instance. 
The Orchardists’ Crook , 
fig. 10, consists of a light 
rod, with an iron hook at 
one end, and a piece of 
wood made to slide along 
it. It enables the opera¬ 
tor to draw down the 
flexible branches of fruit 
trees within his reach, and 
retain them there while 
the fruit is picked from 
them. In 
using it, 
the opera¬ 
tor draws 
down the 
end of the 
Fig. 10. branch 
with the hook, and fastens it by the sliding piece to 
another branch below. The slider passes freely 
along the rod when not in use, but ceases to slide 
by the friction of the side-strain, when fastened to 
the branch. 
The folding ladder may be closed together with 
the facility of a pair of compasses; it then becomes 
a round stick, easily carried in one hand. It is 
made of strong light wood, and its construction 
may be readily understood by fig. 11, represent¬ 
ing the ladder as (.pen, as half-closed, and as close¬ 
ly shut. An enlarged longitudinal section shows 
the manner in which the rounds lie in the grooves 
or concave beds in the sides or styles j above which 
Fig. 9. 
