32 THE UNHEATED GREENHOUSE 



HARDY PLANTS 



Let us try to define the distinction between hardy and 

 half-hardy plants from the point of view of the unheated 

 greenhouse. Hardy plants, as we know, are those which 

 need no protection to enable them to withstand the frequent 

 changes of our climate in all parts of the United Kingdom, 

 but for greenhouse purposes we must gather out of these such 

 as can be made decorative either for foliage or for flower 

 during the flowerless season. Roughly speaking, this season 

 extends from October, when the first keen frost sweeps its 

 sharp scythe over the autumn garden, until March in some 

 years later still when swelling buds and the blackbird's 

 mellow pipe begin to tell us that spring is here. Before 

 Christmas, Chrysanthemums, late Tea and China Roses, a 

 few annuals especially prepared, like Cosmos, the crimson 

 spikes of Schizostylis, Carnations of the Margherita type, late 

 purple Asters too tardy to open out of doors, and many 

 another bright flower will come to our aid. With the new 

 year, and before if we try, we can have Roman Hyacinths, 

 paper, and the early Scilly White Narcissus, scarlet Van Thol 

 Tulips, and Christmas Roses, while the cheerful gleam of 

 Coronilla and Winter Jasmine and the lovely cream-white 

 flowers and buds of the Box-leaved Myrtle and of Laurustinus 

 will not leave us forlorn even at that pitiless season. Then 

 will follow a long procession of spring bulbs, herbaceous 

 perennials, and shrubs, which it is our business to coax into 

 flower to fill in the remainder of the weeks until the green- 

 house needs no longer to take the place of the outer air. So 

 much as this, and, indeed, much more, may be done without 

 any firing at all, for these are all hardy plants, but not without 

 some extra care when the weather is specially severe, and 

 maybe, on occasion, at the cost of a little drooping, not very 

 harmful, of the more tender flowers. Not without energy, and 



