French Garden. Preparing, Plants. 89 



out should be kept free from excessive damp ; if the soil is 

 heavy the bed should be raised slightly above the ordinary 

 level of the garden ; it should be in an open position where 

 the air can move freely and never in a sheltered corner or 

 at the foot of a wall. 



If the disease has shown itself previously the soil should be 

 watered with Bordeaux mixture before planting. If the mildew 

 appears remove and burn those plants attacked worst, then 

 dust the remainder, through a powder bellows, with a mixture 

 of equal parts of powdered quicklime and flowers of sulphur. 



Protecting the Plants from Frost. On the approach of 

 winter every care must be taken to protect the plants from 

 frost. Every night both frames and cloches must be covered 

 with mats, and uncovered again in the morning. When severe 

 frost threatens, dry litter should be scattered, three or four 

 inches deep around and amongst the cloches, and up to the 

 top of the frame board, and the mats should be laid on so 

 that they not only cover the top but also reach the ground on 

 either side. In laying on the mats, particularly if the weather 

 is stormy, they should overlap with the exposed edge facing to 

 leeward, or in the direction opposite to that from which the 

 wind blows. Laid in this way and fastened down on the wind- 

 ward side high winds do not disturb them, whereas if these 

 precautions are neglected the gardener may some morning find 

 the mats scattered about the garden. The litter amongst the 

 cloches must be removed as the weather gets milder, otherwise 

 it would tend to hold excessive moisture, besides being an 

 obstruction to light. In very keen frost the mats must only be 

 removed for a few hours in the middle of the day. Constant 

 watchfulness is required to ensure that the plants escape 

 freezing and yet are grown hardily. 



