TIMELY TOPICS FOR THE AMATEUR— VII. 



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r^^ EPTEMBER is usually a time of uncer- 

 f^l tainty and uneasiness to those who 

 ^"f^. have tender plants to care for, espec- 

 ially after the first week or two of the month 

 has passed. Alternate periods of summer 

 or chilly autumn weather, the mercury often 

 rising or falling- very rapidly in even a few 

 hours, compels the plant lover to watch 

 closely any indication of the approach of 

 the first frost of autumn. 



The change from summer heat to cold, 

 even to freezing point, is often so sudden, 

 that it is well to have the greenhouse and 

 conservatory in readiness to receive the more 

 tender plants early in September. 



Plants in tubs or pots standing outside 

 may be protected from early frosts by remov- 

 ing them to the shelter of a tree near at hand, 

 a fence or building, or the more certain pro- 

 tection of a verandah. For beds of foliage 

 or tender plants, a covering of cotton, or 

 even a few newspapers, will often be suffi- 

 cient protection to ward off slight frosts. The 

 covering should be secured by means of 

 stakes or wires, as close to the plant as pos- 

 sible without actually touching them. If the 

 first few frosts of early autumn can be pre- 

 vented from nipping foliage plants, they will 

 often retain their rich coloring, and brighten 



up the lawn and its surroundings, until the 

 more gorgeous and resplendent tints of late 

 autumn foliage appear to warn us to prepare 

 for winter frost and storm. 



Should any plants be unfortunately nipped 

 by frost, keep them covered until the sun 

 and heat of the following day has passed, 

 as immediate exposure to sun and air is very 

 disastrous to plants, even if only slightly 

 frost-bitten. I have found this method of 

 excluding light and air for a time from plants 

 touched by frost, more successful in restoring 

 them than syringing or plunging them in 

 cold water. To be successful with either 

 method, it is essential that frost-bitten plants 

 under any circumstances, should at once 

 have a gradually rising temperature to a few 

 degrees above freezing point to recover in. 

 This condition comes naturally during the 

 increasing heat of the day, to plants exposed 

 at night to early autumn frosts. 



If you have a few choice tender plants^ 

 and feel doubtful whether there will be frost 

 or not, it is always best to be on the safe 

 side, and place them, if only for a single 

 night, where they are safe. Many fine speci- 

 men plants have been ruined by leaving them 

 outside just one night too long. 



