362 PLAINT AND PLEASANT TALK 



It is the sun, and not the frost, that, for the most part, 

 kills the stems of half-hardy plants. Protection is often, 

 therefore, only thorough shading. The Bengal tea, and 

 noisette roses are left out at Philadelphia and at Cincin 

 nati without detriment. 



Drive a stake by the side of the plant, and drawing up 

 the branches to it, cover them with straw, or bass-matting 

 wrapped around them. Kegs, barrels, boxes, etc., may be 

 turned over such as are not too high and will sufficiently 

 protect them. Air-holes should be bored in barrels, etc., 

 and the north side is the best for the purpose. 



Grape vines which need protection should be loosened 

 from the trellis or wall, pruned, laid down on the ground 

 and earth thrown over them three or four inches deep. 

 Isabella and Catawba grape vines will need no protection. 



TO PRESERVE DAHLIA ROOTS. 



THE least frost destroys these roots. In warm and damp 

 cellars they rot. Very many persons have no cellars at all 

 (a very frequent destitution at the West) ; others are so 

 small and moist, as to be unfit (our own, for instance) ; and 

 the extreme variations of temperature during the day and 

 night make sitting-rooms and their closets very unsafe 

 places for them. The labor of packing them in sand is not 

 great to those who have it ready or men to procure it ; but 

 to ladies, and especially to many in towns and cities who 

 are enthusiastic cultivators of flowers, but grievously vexed 

 with poverty of pocket, this plan is inconvenient. 



&quot;Why may not dahlias be kept in the soil ? We think 

 there is not the least doubt that they can be protected from 

 frost and heat. Every one knows that in spading up in 

 the spring the dahlia beds of the previous year, large sec 

 tions of the tubers, which had broken off when the main 



