WINTER PRECAUTIONS 47 



discover what has been done, put them in a dark 

 room, or the cellar, where the temperature is but 

 little above freezing, and sprinkle, or rather shower 

 them, with cold water. Never use warm if you want 

 to save your plants. In most cases, such plants as 

 Geraniums, Abutilons and others of similar character 

 can, if taken in time, before they have been allowed 

 to thaw, be saved, and I have had quite tender plants 

 come through the ordeal with comparatively little 

 injury. The frost must be extracted from the plant 

 cells gradually, and with the application of as little 

 heat as possible. Keep them away from the light 

 and warmth for two or three days. If the tops wilt 

 after the frost has been extracted you may feel sure 

 that the wilted portion cannot be saved and the sooner 

 it is cut off the better. Cut below where it seems 

 to be affected by frost. If some of the frosted part 

 is left on, decay often sets in, which soon extends 

 to other portions, and the plant is pretty sure to 

 die. If the whole top seems killed, it does not follow 

 that there may not be vitality enough left in the root 

 to throw up new shoots, so do not throw them away 

 till you have given them a chance to make a fresh start. 

 Do not get the idea from what I have said above, 

 that at the North, in winter, plants can be kept in one 

 house out of fifty without keeping fire over night, 

 after following the advice given to the minutest par- 

 ticular. It will be necessary to see that fire does not 

 go out, but a much smaller fire will be required in 

 a room so prepared for winter than in a room which 

 has received no attention. Do not neglect making 

 these preparations till winter conies, and with such 

 severity as to make it impossible to do the work outside 

 well. Do it while it can be done carefully, and without 

 discomfort, and it will be done much more thoroughly 

 than it will when the fingers tingle with cold and 

 ererv breath is a puff of vapor on the frosty air. 



