118 ON THE NATURALISATION 



prosper in the open air. In England the rhododendrons 

 succeed perfectly well in our gardens, though the soil is 

 less rich in carbon than the bog-earth of Belgium; but the 

 moisture of our climate is particularly favorable to that, 

 as well as to every species of laurel, and to evergreen 

 plants in general. 



In transplanting from a colder climate, very few pre- 

 cautions are required : an elevated situation is desirable, 

 and a sufficiency of water to provide for the more abun- 

 dant evaporation to which the plant is subjected. 



Plants brought from a warmer climate should be water- 

 ed but moderately, because the power of evaporation is 

 checked by the diminution of temperature. This is par- 

 ticularly to be observed in autumn, when the cold weather 

 first sets in. 



Emily. And in that season, the direction, I should 

 suppose, would be applicable to plants of every descrip- 

 tion, none of them being capable of evaporating so much 

 during winter as summer, especially when deprived of 

 their organs of evaporation the leaves. 



Mrs. B. True ; but not equally applicable to those 

 which preserve them. Such greenhouse plants, for in- 

 stance, as geraniums and orange-trees, which retain their 

 organs of evaporation throughout the winter, though that 

 function is more imperfectly performed during this season, 

 will admit of being watered with less parsimony than 

 others. 



Emily. Do you approve of sheltering delicate plants, 

 by covering them with straw or matting during the winter ? 



Mrs. B. If the spot in which they grow be elevated, 

 and the soil dry, it may be done with advantage ; but in 

 low damp situations such a precaution might occasion the 

 plant to rot, particularly evergreens, as the covering 

 would prevent the evaporation of any superabundant 

 moisture by the leaves. In such cases, it is better to leave 

 the plant exposed, taking care, only, to shake off the 

 snow which, if melted by the sun during the day, runs 

 down the stem and branches, and insinuates itself into 

 any little crevice it may chance to find in its passage, or 



662. What is said of transplanting from a colder climate! 663. 



How are plants brought from warmer climates to be watered! 664. 



What is said of the watering of geraniums and orange trees'? 665. 



And of sheltering delicate situations'? 666. In low damp situations 

 what is better 1 



