12 DIRECTIONS FOR PROVIDING TENDER TLANTS, &C. 



most of the space covered. As the plants are placed, let the space 

 between each be filled up with sand, when they will require little 

 attention, save an occasional watering, until they are removed to 

 their final destination. Under such a shelter, the hardier sorts, or 

 such as have been propagated in autumn, may be placed as early as 

 the 1st of March; the pots, and the room in the house that they 

 occupied, to be employed in forwarding others to be treated in the 

 same manner. High or cutting winds, heavy rains, and cold are to 

 be guarded against, during which the canvass must remain down. 



The mere saving of room is not the only recommendation such a 

 practice possesses. When the plants are taken up with the small 

 piece of turf attached, it will be found that they have formed nume- 

 rous strong and fleshy spongioles, ready to seize upon the soil with 

 the greatest avidity. They likewise suffer much when taken from 

 under glass, and exposed to the direct influence of light : placed out 

 so early, the cause is less powerful ; the effect, consequently, less 

 felt ; and what they do suffer in appearance is entirely recovered 

 while they remain where their appearance is not of the smallest con- 

 sequence. Those who possess propagating-houses, and every con- 

 venience to supply the plants required of them, may deem it 

 unnecessary to employ such an auxiliary ; but the number of such is 

 limited indeed, when compared with those who happily take an 

 interest in a garden, and strive to make the most of the means placed 

 at their disposal : to those who have only a green-house it is invalu- 

 able. Persons so situated would do well to propagate as many as 

 possible in autumn ; retain them in the cutting-pots during the 

 winter, allowing them plenty of air, as the best safeguard against 

 damp, the greatest enemy to plants at such a season ; pot them off, 

 and place them under the shelter already recommended in spring. 

 When judiciously managed, it is surprising how many plants may be 

 thus produced, even by a single frame. Annuals intended fur plant- 

 ing out in beds, for which purpose there are many sorts well adapted, 

 ought to be sown in autumn, and treated in every respect like cut- 

 tings, when they will produce a far finer display than those raised in 

 spring. 



Specimen greenhouse plants, in pots, placed singly or in groups 

 upon the lawn, when properly introduced, produce a fine effect. To 

 prevent plants so placed having their roots injured by the action of 



