Reading in the February number of the Horticulturist the article on Stretching Wires, by "Horticola," reminded me that in a former number, speaking of dwarf apple-trees grown as edging, I promised to describe an instrument, then newly invented, in use in France, for stiffening wire trellises. The accompanying drawing gives a correct idea of this useful thing, though it is generally three times the size here represented. It consists of a small strip of iron a 10th of an inch thick,¾ inch wide, to one end of which - a little wider than the rest - is fastened a rivet (a), with its head ¾ inch in diameter; said rivet is pierced through by a hole, into which the wire is passed. The wire being fastened at both ends, all it requires to tighten it is to wind the stiffener around until the wire is sufficiently stiff, and then you make the stiffener fast by just inserting the wire into that little notch (b) at the small end of the tightener, which is bent to a straight angle, the wire itself acting as a spring. It is very easy when the wire becomes slack by the effect of heat or otherwise to give the tightener half a turn, which is all that is necessary.

The above instrument was invented by Mr. Carbou, a French gardener, and is very simple and cheap, and never gets out of order.

The Carbou Stiffener 230034

Fig. 36.

It is manufactured in France at prices varying from $3 to $10 per hundred, according to size. I hope somebody will manufacture it for us here.