458 
CULTIVATING AND PROTECTING FRUIT-TREES. 
vivum; one pound of each, put into a large waterpotful of soap-suds 
and urine. I let it stand for two, or three days, occasionally stirring 
it up during that time, and then it is fit for use. 
By this treatment, all my trees do as well as I can wish. I find 
the wash is a great preservation to the trees from the attack of in¬ 
sects; and it causes the trees to look as green the summer after it is 
applied, as a pasture-field looks the summer after it has been dressed. 
I recommended the use of it to a neighbouring gardener, and during 
the time of the operation, his employer advised him to be cautious 
how he made use of it, unless he was better acquainted with it. He 
left off at once, and in the following summer any person could see 
across the garden how far the trees were done, for the part dressed 
looked a dark green colour, while the other part assumed a yellowish 
colour. I have not, at this time, an unhealthy tree in the garden 
(and this last spring was a trying one for fruit trees, my plums suf¬ 
fered much that were not covered,) and I have had this season the 
finest crop of Peaches and Nectarines I ever had in my life. 
When the trees become too large to be covered with a mat, I have 
curtains made to cover the whole of two south walls and some east 
walls. The curtains are made of strong canvass, it costs about four- 
pence per yard; I have four breadths sewed together, which make 
one curtain, I have them nearly to the coping, and about eighteen 
inches from the ground. I draw them sideways like bed-curtains, 
which I consider much better than hoisting them with lines and pul- 
lies. I have nine rings sewed on with strong tape to the top, and 
also to the bottom of each curtain, and in one or two places between 
the top and bottom of the curtains, wdiich keeps them from being 
much strained by the wind. A piece of tape is sew r ed on where the 
rings are fastened, to strengthen the curtain, and the rings run upon 
small iron rods like bed-curtain rods, fixed into studs made of deal 
or fir, about two inches and a half square, which are made moveable. 
First, I have irons drove into the w r all like the annexed 
figure, one near the top and another near the bottom, to 
fix the studs into; the top one projects six inches from the 
wall, and the bottom one nine; there are holes in the irons 
for iron pins (each with a head) to go in and through 
the stud, which keep it quite firm. The curtain-rods 
are made with a head at one end, and a screw at the 
other; holes are made in the studs to slip the rods 
through, then a nut is put on the screw which keeps all tight; the 
curtains have a sheath or pocket at each side similar to the under 
vallance of a bed, to admit a lath of about two inches by three-quar- 
