Occupations > Abercrombie's improved practical gardener; with a monthly calendar for the flower garden

16
INTRODUCTION.
When walls are of any length, and the foun¬
dation not very good, they may be strengthened
by projecting buttresses set at intervals; yet il
they will stand without being in danger, the face
of the walls have a better appearance without
them. With respect to coping, practical men
are of various opinions. Some lay, it should not
project more than half an incL beyond the face
of the wall; others, that they should project se¬
veral inches, in order to throw the wet olf the
trees; others give it a slope all \s cne side, in
order to throw the wet to the worst aspect,
which, if planted with frait-trees, is very wrong;
it being very disadvantageous to trees trained to
such wall, if there can be any disadvantage in
rain falling upon them, which is a matter of
question, except just when the fruit is ripening,
when it perhaps might be as well dry; and also
when the trees are in blossom or fruit setting; at
other times the little rain that falls on the foliage
may be considered of advantage, upon the prin¬
ciple of watering the leaves of wall-trees in an
evening, which refreshes them very much, and
helps to clear the trees of insects and filth.
There can be no objection to a temporary coping
of boards, projecting a foot or eighteen inches
over the trees when in blossom in the spring, as
they will greatly repel the perpendicular frosts,
which frequently happen at that time, and which
are very injurious, both to the blossoms and set¬
ting fruit. A fixed coping, projecting, an inch to
preserve the wall, is all that is necessary, and if