Nineteen] 



the sun ; plants are not injured so much by freezing as 

 by thawing suddenly, as they must when the sun shines 

 directly upon them. If they thaw gradually, little if 

 any damage is done, but sudden thawing ruptures the 

 plant-cells, causing serious injury. To prevent this 

 and the settling of water about the roots are the points 

 to keep in mind when giving winter protection. 



For plants whose tops die, leaves offer an excellent 

 protection better than manure, in that they do not 

 scatter seeds of weeds. For plants that form a fall 

 crown of leaves as the Hollyhock or Annunciation 

 Lily a box with an open end filled lightly with leaves 

 is satisfactory. Close, air-tight covers, as boxes, tin 

 pails, iron kettles, and the like, should never be used 

 to protect plants of any kind. Wooden frames 

 covered with wire netting and filled loosely with 

 leaves, allowing the moisture to evaporate rapidly, 

 have given the best results; next come frames covered 

 with thin cotton cloth, then loose boxes with one end 

 knocked out. The idea is to retain the dry leaves 

 around the plant, protect from sun and cold wind, and 

 allow the rapid evaporation of any moisture that may 

 collect. Wet or frozen leaves around a plant are 

 worse than no protection ; especially is this true in the 

 case of Myosotis, Pansies, Carnations, Canterbury- 

 bells, and Foxglove, all of which do better in the cold- 

 frames. Where these are not available, recourse may 

 be had to the boxes with netting, or to evergreen 

 boughs. When filling in about a plant with leaves do 



