92 EFFECTS OF THE PAST WINTEB ON OTTT-DOOE PLANTS. 



by the Peruvians to wounds and dislocations ; and taken internally, the flowers are 

 said to be anti-epileptic : its properties are probably analogous to those of the allied 

 genus, Lythrum. 



Cuphea is derived from kyphos, curved, in reference to the curved calyx. 



ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PAST WINTER 



ON SOME RECENTLY INTRODUCED OUT-DOOR PLANTS. 



[COMMUNICATED BY MESSRS. STANDISH AND NOBLE, BAGSHOT, SURREY. 



The past winter, and more especially the spring, has put to the test, and very 

 severely too, the hardiness of out-door plants in general. Many species have been 

 wholly destroyed, or at least severely damaged, which in former years withstood 

 much more severe weather unscathed. This, which on a superficial view 

 would appear a paradox, is readily to be accounted for after a more careful 

 examination. 



The continuous mild and wet weather that obtained up to the second week in 

 the present year, not only prevented plants from maturing their wood, but, on 

 the contrary, kept them in a vigorous and growing state. "While in this condition, 

 frost set in, the circulation of the sap was suddenly arrested ; parching winds 

 succeeded, and the natural result was that such shoots were destroyed, exhibiting 

 the appearance of having been burnt up by severe frost. "We do not, of course, 

 insist that all the damage sustained by out-door plants in the past winter is to be 

 attributed to that cause ; but we are confident that much of it may be with perfect 

 justice. And, of course, plants in the condition described are very much more 

 susceptible to the influence of frost, and consequently suffer more from its effects 

 then, than after an autumn favourable to the maturation of their wood. That the 

 accomplishment or prevention of this, is, in a great measure (with cultivated 

 plants) under the control of the planter, is now patent enough, and we need not 

 therefore enlarge upon the subject. 



There can be no doubt that much caution is necessary and advisable in pro- 

 nouncing any plant not hardy, because it may not have proved so in certain 

 situations, and under certain conditions. We are constantly witnessing anomalous 

 results in this respect : the various Horticultural publications of the hour have 

 recorded many such : and it would be productive of the best results to the depart- 

 ment of gardening to which such an enquiry would more particularly refer, if some 

 one possessing the necessary qualifications would investigate them, and record the 

 results of the enquiry. 



With these preliminaries, we proceed to give our readers some brief information 



