CHAP. CXVII. 



HAl.F-HARDY BfONOCOTYLEIXTNEJE. 



253 1 



over the surface, in the same manner as the fern does in England. As a single 

 object on a British lawn, few, in rarity and singularity, can surpass a handsome 

 fan palm. A plant has stood out in the open air in the Edinburgh Botanic 

 Garden for several winters, with scarcely any protection. 



The Chamae'rops hdmilis, being a plant of small size and slow growth, is very 

 easily covered in such a manner as effectually to exclude frost ; and, if it is found 

 worth while to protect the pines and araucarias of warm climates, it surely will 

 not be thought too much to recommend the bestowing of this care on the only 

 species of palm yet known which is likely to make a fine appearance in the 

 open air in British gardens. It may be observed, that the dwarf fan palm, 

 having strong tough fronds, may be protected throughout the winter without 

 the admission of light, which acids greatly to the facility and economy of the 

 operation of protection. On the other hand, pines, firs, and most dicotyle- 

 donous plants, when protected during winter, not only require the frost to be 

 excluded, but light and air to be frequently admitted. A cylindrical frame 

 of iron rods, with a cover formed of a slightly convex plate of zinc, manufac- 

 tured by Messrs. Cottam and Hallan, is well adapted for protecting plants of 

 this kind. The zinc cover throws off 

 the rain and protects the plant under it 

 from perpendicular snows, while the 

 sides are covered with mats, which can 

 be taken off or put on at pleasure, and 

 in a few minutes. Fig. 2406. shows 

 one section of the skeleton cylinder, 

 which may be increased to any height by 

 placing others of the same dimensions 

 over it ; and fig. 2405. shows the zinc 

 cover. Covers of this kind are admir- 

 ably adapted for protecting shrubs which 

 flower early in spring, such as the Paeonia 

 Moutan, MagnolzVz conspicua, camellias, 

 &c. ; and in autumn they may be placed 

 over currant bushes, or over Buttner's 

 mirellio cherry trees ; by which means 

 the fruit may be preserved hanging on 

 the branches, and fit for the table, till 

 November. Instead of having the skele- 

 ton cylinders of iron, and the cap zinc, 

 the former we should greatly prefer 



being made of Kyanised willow or hazel rods, and the latter of oiled paper, 

 or of birch bark fastened to a wickerwork frame. Even if the cap were 5 ft. 

 or 6 ft. in diameter, it might still be covered with plates of bark, such as 

 that of oak, beech, birch, &c., cut in the form of plain tiles, but larger for 

 placing round the circumference, and smaller for the centre, and projecting a 

 few inches all round, so as to clear the sides from the drip and perpendicular 

 rain. The different sections forming the sides might also be covered with 

 bark, or, if not with bark, with straw or reeds, unbruised, and placed in a verti- 

 cal direction, so as to throw off side rains. Where these frames are used, they 

 are commonly covered with straw or hay ropes, or with bast mats ; but, these 

 not presenting either a smooth surface like the bark, or a channeled surface 

 like the straw or reeds, absorb the moisture which falls on them, and thus not 

 only chill the atmosphere within, by the evaporation which takes place while 

 they are drying, but rot the material. We have a great objection to the use 

 of iron in the support or protection of plants, where wood can be substituted, 

 and an equal objection to the preference generally given to wood prepared 

 with the saw and the plane, and painted, rather than to poles or rods with the 

 bark on. The reason for our objections is : the great disparity between the 

 nature and durability of the protector and supporter, and the thing protected or 

 supported. The means appear badly adjusted to the end, and the end seems as 

 it were only secondary to the means. It is true, there has been hitherto a 



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