PROTECTION OF PLANTS. 51 



latitudes, are not hardy when exposed to the vicissitudes 

 of our winters, but in their own locahties they are snugly 

 stowed away under deep snow, all ready to burst into 

 flower as soon as the snows are dissolved, where summer 

 succeeds winter, without any spring. But when exposed 

 here to the hot suns of February and March, succeeded 

 by cold freezing nights, when the ground is bare, by the 

 process of freezing and thawing, the plants are thrown 

 out of the ground, and soon perish. Even many quite 

 hardy herbaceous plants are thus destroyed. The only 

 remedy to prevent this damage is to give all herbaceous 

 plants a slight protection, which should be done before the 

 jDiercing cold winds of December set hi. 



Leaves afford the best protection, and of these I prefer 

 oak leaves, although any other kind will do very well. 

 A thick covering of manure from the stable is injurious 

 for many plants. Deep covering Avith any material is to 

 be avoided. A covering of leaves three or four inches 

 thick, is sufficient. A little brush laid over the leaves, 

 will prevent them from being blown off by high winds. 

 Do not be in a hurry to take off the covering before the 

 first of April, and if the weather is severe, let it remain a 

 few days longer. Some of the hybrid Roses, denominated 

 pillar Roses, are best protected by laying doAvn and cover- 

 ing Avdth earth, in the same manner as we protect Rasp- 

 berry canes, but care must be taken to prevent tlie stems 

 from being broken. When taken up in the spring, strong 

 stakes or poles should be substantially fastened Into the 

 ground, to which they should be tied to prevent the action 

 of the wind, and keep the bushes in shape. Thus treated, 

 I have seen pyramids of Roses, twenty feet high, which, 

 without this protection, would have died down to two or 

 three feet of the ground. Roses will bear any quantity 

 of manure, and should receive a heavy dressing of stable 

 or any other coarse material, applied to the roots in No- 



