PROTECTION OF HALF-IIAIIDT PLANTS IN WINTEB. 171 



advisable to bring together, into a connected form, the more important of these 



directions. 



There can be no doubt that the list of plants capable of out-door culture through- 

 out the year might be greatly extended, provided a proper system of protection 

 were employed ; and that many plants which are now rarely seen in any but a 

 restricted form, would, under such treatment, attain a luxuriance rivalling that 

 exhibited by them in their native haunts. Among many others, the Tropaolum 

 tricolorum, or Tricolored Indian Cress, occurs to us ; this plant is, we believe, never, 

 or at least very rarely, seen cultivated except in pots, in which we admit, 

 however, it makes, when well grown, an exceedingly ornamental appearance ; but 

 when planted out against a wall, and the tuber protected in winter, the difference 

 in the size attained is scarcely credible. It is true these results are not 

 attainable without a little care ; but the splendid display made, by this and many 

 other exotics during their flowering season, is a rich reward for the pains 



bestowed. . 



For the greater convenience of treatment, plants which it may be desired to 

 protect may be classified in three or four groups: 1st, Wall plants; 2nd, Shrubs, 

 or Half-Shrubby plants; 3rd, Herbaceous plants ; 4th, Bulbs. The first division 

 includes a large number of beautiful subjects, such as the Halrothammis fasciculatus, 

 Tacsonias, Sollyas, Mandsvilla, Myrtle, and Clianthus punicem. In protecting these, 

 and indeed all other plants, it must be borne in mind that, in many cases, it is not 

 so much a low temperature that is to be dreaded, as its association with sodden soil 

 and unripened tissues; could these last conditions be guarded against, the 

 protection of many plants would be comparatively an easy task ; our endeavours 

 must, therefore, be directed to preserving the soil around their roots in as dry a 

 condition as possible. 



The Tacsonia manicata, figured and described at page 99, appears likely to fulfil 

 our anticipations of its comparative hardiness. Our specimen is planted against 

 a wall, and has covered a considerable space. We intend to place over its roots 

 a semicircle of wood, eighteen inches wide and an inch thick, the straight edge of 

 the board to be placed against the wall, and a small notch cut out for the stem of 

 the plant. The board will be raised above the soil, by two or three cube-like feet, 

 and the space between it and the ground stuffed with some dry material, hay or 

 fern. The stems themselves will be left exposed as long as the weather is mild ; 

 on the first approach of frost they will be cut down to within four or five feet from 

 the ground, and the whole be gathered into a bundle, around which will be 

 wrapped one or two thicknesses of bast-matting ; this, however, being so liable to 

 become soaked by heavy rains, in which state it would be worse than useless, will 

 be covered with a pieca of waterproof calico, or oil cloth, the top or end of the 

 bundle being also tied over with this material. Thus the bast will act as a 



