268 PRACTICAL GAEDENING. 



regarded as an autTiority, tend to tliat one point. A spot 

 sheltered from tlie north, and east winds, is recommended ; 

 this must be warmer than an open space where a plant would 

 be exposed to them. High and dry ground is also recom- 

 mended ; this must be warmer than cold and damp. Then, 

 again, complete draining is enjoined; — all tending to give 

 warmth. And, lastly, a light compost, with good heart, but 

 not highly manured — everything calculated to make a warm 

 snug berth for a plant. The proper caution on all occasions 

 is to avoid sudden changes, and therefore to inure the plant by 

 degrees to its altered situation j and there ends the art and 

 mystery of acclimation, which means changing the nature of 

 the plant to suit the climate, but which in practice, according 

 to their own showdng, is finding and making a climate to suit 

 the plant. 



Let us follow up these remarks on the attempt to do impos- 

 sible things, by a few observations on what is possible. 



If we take a hint from the chapter op hybridizing, we may 

 contemplate the possibility of obtaining hardy varieties of 

 very tender families. Whatever we set our minds to do in 

 the way of improving plants, or flo^^^ers, or vegetables, our 

 progress may be slow, but with assiduity and perseverance we 

 may be successful. 



We long ago set out for the florists of England what ap- 

 peared at the time some very hard tasks : we required them 

 to produce the heartsease round; the cineraria rounds; the 

 phlox round; the dahlia two-thirds of a hall; and many 

 other equally difficult things : and some that appeared to 

 them, but not to us, impossible, have been nearly accom- 

 plished — some, we might say, quite. Suppose we were now 

 to say the cultivators of plants and vegetables must produce 

 them hardy ! We will begin with the pea. Let all growers 

 of peas which are seedling plants, sow at many seasons, and 

 especially soav all the kinds they can in autumn ; let them 

 take, no pains whatever to protect them, but sow six inches 

 apart, and only one in a place or hole ; watch every frost, and 

 examine, after a thaw, the effect of it. If they see one pea or 

 plant stand better than another, prize it ; and from that plant, 

 and any others that stand equally well, save the entire seed. 

 The next year, sow the produce in the same way ; and, as 

 nature differs a little in seedlings, watch every frost, and do 

 the same again. If a man were bent on this, he might — we 



