ON THE NATURALIZATION OF PLANTS. 15 1 



Dr. Wilfon of Glafgow obferved, that when a great degree Remarkable 

 of cold prevailed, palifades extending outward from a houfe, 1^^"^ f e 

 and alfo from a large pillar, were covered with hoarfroft, in froft on infu- 

 the mod regular manner, according to their proximity or dif- lated bodies. 

 tance from the houfe or pillar, thofe next the houfe or pillar 

 remaining free from hoarfroft, while the more diftant ones 

 were entirely covered *. This accounts for the fig-tree moots, 

 mentioned by Miller, being killed when growing out from the 

 wall, at the fame time when the other (hoots clofe nailed to it 

 efcaped unhurt f . From this circumftance, moft people have 

 affixed thofe plants which they with to naturalize to the cli- 

 mate againft walls. But when put to a wall, care fliould be 

 taken that they are fheltered from ftrong winds, which gene- 

 rally injure the leaves and young (hoots, thereby deftroying 

 the plant if it is not vigorous. On this account the flems of 

 large trees are preferable for climbing plants, and there they 

 muft always be more admired as appearing more natural. 



But in/lead of affixing to walls thofe plants which require no 

 fupport, we might cultivate them in pots or boxes, which may 

 be placed in their proper expofure during the fummer, and, 

 until their hardinefs is determined, removed under the fir or 

 other trees in winter, the thicknefs of whofe (hade ought to be 

 proportioned to the apparent tendernefs of the plant. 



Thefe pots or boxes (hould be always funk in the earth, and 

 in winter the furface covered with mofs. The drier the ground 

 the better, for funken pots are liable to be too damp. 



The beft manner of treating ericas is to place them in a Treatment of 

 proper fituation in the fpring, and on the approach of fevere e " cas andothcr 

 weather to fix branches of fpruce-fir about them, augmenting 

 the covering as the cold encreafes. But as the cold feldom 

 becomes fuddenly fevere, and a (light froft does them little in- 

 jury, the erica tubliflora, one of the moft tender, bearing about 

 29° of Fahrenheit's thermometer ; it is beft not to begin cover- 

 ing too foon, left, as they are plants that require a very (mall 

 degree of heat, they mould be made to (hoot, in which cafe 

 the (lighteft froft will perhaps detlroy them. To protect her- 

 baceous plants from froft, mofs is the moft proper covering, by 

 remaining alive through the winter; even after being pulled 

 up, it is not liable to heating and putrefaction, as all dead ve- 



* Philofophical Tranfaaions, Vol. lxx. p. 471, 2. 

 f Miller's Dictionary, Article Ficus. 



getable 



