ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 113 



All tender plants are to be removed or secured by covering. 



The best covering to secure the earth from frost, that we- 

 know of, is a layer of leaves, say three inches thick when 

 well packed down, and upon them two or three inches of 

 chip dirt, with the coarsest part on top. We have had the 

 soil unfrozen in severe winters when so covered. In this 

 manner, tuberoses, gladiolus, dahlias, tiger flowers, etc., may 

 be kept out through the winter. The gladiolus thus treated 

 makes splendid tufts of blossoms. It may be prudent to 

 try only a few at first, and adventure more as experience 

 gives confidence. 



CELERY which is to be left in the trenches should first be 

 well covered with straw, and then boards should be placed 

 upon the top in such a manner as to shed the rain. Great 

 quantities of wet rot it when it is not growing ; and freez 

 ing and thawing in the light destroys it. 



If portions of the garden have been infested with cut 

 worms, etc., let it be spaded and thrown up loosely just be 

 fore freezing weather. A clay soil will be ameliorated by 

 frosts, if treated in the same way. A light, loose soil, should 

 not be worked in the fall. 



GUARDING CHERRY-TREES FROM COLD. 



THIS tree is peculiarly liable while young, but more espe 

 cially when coming into bearing, to be roughly handled by 

 our winters. The bark at the surface of the ground splits, and 

 often the trunk, enfeebling the tree and sometimes destroy 

 ing it. The evil does not result from the cold, but from the 

 action of bright suns upon the frozen trunk. Let those hav 

 ing valuable young trees, prepare them for whiter by giv 

 ing a cheap covering to the trunks, so that the sun shall not 

 strike them. This may be done by tying about them bass 

 matting, long straw, corn-stalks, or any similar protection. 



