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PRESERVING PLANTS IN WINTER. 



BY H. B. 



Nothing has more discouraged the cultivation of flowers than the supposed difficulty of 

 preserving them in winter ; and as this apparently formidable obstacle dinappears as the 

 amateur acquires experience, I h'hall endeavor to detail some of tiic methods I have em- 

 ployed, and their successful results. Of course, my remarks are intended for those who 

 garden on a small scale, and who have not greenhouses for winter protection. At the 

 same time, the principles of the treatment about to be described will apply to the largest 

 collections, and may be of service to all whose object is to secure the beauties of the 

 spring and summer from the desolations of winter. 



Those whose stock of flowers consists of a few greenhouse plants, which they have 

 cultivated in windows, have a very easy task to perform in protecting their favourites, as 

 far as frost is concerned ; for a very small amount of care will sufiice when the plants 

 are in a dwelling-house. The temperature of an occupied sitting-room will always be 

 suflSciently high to keep out the frost in the day time, even if the plants are close to the 

 light, and they may easily be removed in the evening to that side of the apartment which 

 is furthest from the window. If the the amateur has a large number of plants (young 

 Pelargoniums, for instance) arranged on shelves close to the window, to remove these 

 would be troublesome, and they may therefore be allowed to remain in their places in 

 ordinary frosty weather, the precaution being taken to interpose the blind between them 

 and the window. I once preserved 200 plants in good health through a severe season^ 

 in a room having only one large window, which admitted a good deal of sun. Some of 

 the pots (which were all small OO's) were placed on narrow shelves, ascending to the top 

 of the window, and as near the glass as possible; the others were set on a table. An 

 Arnott stove \^as lit when required either by very damp or very cold weather; air was 

 given as often as possible ; the v;hole collection was often moved, that light might be 

 equally dispensed, and advantage was taken of mild rains. I succeeded in preserving 

 the whole, without any sickly growth being developed, and was rewarded by having an 

 abundance of strong plants for bedding out in the spring. Most of these were Pelargo- 

 niums. 



Many plants may be more summarily dealt with. Cactuses and Scarlet Pelargoniums 

 will do well in any dry cellar, provided no Avater is given them. The latter, when taken 

 up from the flower-garden, I have preserved by shaking off the soil, and hanging them, 

 root upwards, in a shed or coach-housse, from which frost could be excluded. In the 

 srping they were found in full possession of their vital powers, and on being trimmed 

 and potted, mode handsome plants. In all the cases to which I have alluded, it will be 

 seen that care and forethought are the requisites demanded of the amateur. Attention 

 must not be remitted for a day. I have always found that more plants are lost in the 

 winter by damp than by frost. Much water, therefore, must not be given ; indeed it 

 should be altogether withheld so long as the plants do not flag. A plant in a moist 

 growing state will yield easily to frost ; while, if it had been kept dry and dormant, its 

 powers of resistance would have been great. 



But no plan of preserving plants from frost, independent of a greenhouse, is equal 



