54 GARDENING GLEANINGS. 



Sun and Air, will effect ; for the disturbing the roots in the remo- 

 val is .a great hindrance to their attraction of nourishment, and it 

 will be several days after the removal before new fibres will shoot 

 forth to gather new nourishment : and the standing of a plant 

 prevents the digestion of the sap by the heat of the sun and air. 

 This is of great use in retarding the flowering of several Flowers, 

 and also the growth of several Esculents, as Cauhi flowers, &c." 



" Plants to defend from cold and sun. It is usual to defend 

 several tender Plants from the cold in the Winter, to preserve them 

 and to expose them to the sun in such winter days that prove 

 clear, which exposure injurcth the plant more than the cold. For 

 the sun-beams in frosty weather, especially if there be Snow on 

 the ground, makes a plant faint and sick. As is observed in the 

 Laurel, which if it grow against a North wall, or in the shade; 

 although open to the severest winds, yet retains its green colour 

 all the winter; but if it stands in the sun, it changeth yellow only 

 from that cause. The same is observed of several tender Plants 

 that are usually sheltered from the winds and exposed to the Sun, 

 yet it is not improper to give plants Air, and also Sun, in mild 

 Weather, at any time of the Winter which cannot hurt them." 



" Often cutting of Plants. The cutting off of the Buds and 

 Branches of Flowers, leaving only one, or two or more, as the 

 strength of the root will bear, causeth it to yield the fairer Flowers 

 than otherwise it would do: after the same manner, if Herbs be 

 often cut they gather the more strength, yield the fairer leaf, and 

 take better root, and endure the Winter the better. The cause is, 

 that the sap hath less to nourish, and that which is nourished must 

 therefore be the stronger, and the less the sap is expended above, 

 the more strengthens the root in the ground, as may be observed 

 in most Trees that arc lopped. And then do they afterwards issue 

 forth the fairest Branches; some plants usually perish in the win- 

 ter for want of being cut in the summer precedent, and from the 

 same cause, as Wall flowers, Thyme, Marjoram, fyc." '. 



" Plants to continue long. Some Plants are too apt to waste 

 their sap in Flowers, and thereby shorten their lives, as Gilhj 

 floioers, Stock Gilly flowers, and some others, which if their blow- 

 in"- shoots were nipt off they would gather strength and continue 

 longer, for the waste of the sap, overmuch, makes the plant feeble 

 and uncapable of enduring any severity of Winter or Summer, as 



