Prochnyanthes 



( 238 ) 



Protection 



bush of spreading habit. Coriaceum has rounded, 

 wavy, evergreen leaves. The dark green shining 

 leaves of lucidum are handsome, but the plant is 

 a little more tender than the above ; it has two 

 variegated forms. Several other Privets are useful 

 in shrubberies. (See also LlGUSTRUM.) 



PROCHNYANTHES. 



Tuberous-rooted herbs (prd, Amaryllideae) with 

 the flowers, in most cases, in pairs. Propagation, 

 by seeds and by offsets. Soil, fibrous loam, with 

 one-fourth of leaf soil, and plenty of sharp sand. 



Principal Species : 



bulliana, 2' to 3', Sep., whitish yel., in five to six 

 pairs (gyn. Bravoa). 



PROCKIA. 



Evergreen stove shrubs (ord. Tiliaceje), now 

 seldom seen in cultivation. Propagation, by 

 cuttings getting firm at the base, in pots of sand 

 under a bell-glass placed in heat. Soil, fibrous 

 loam, with a little peat and a dash of sand. 



Principal Species : 

 crucis, 5', Jy., yel. serrata (now Thioclia 



serrata) . 

 theseformis, 6', Jy., yel. 



PRONAYA. 



Twining, greenhouse sub-shrubs (ord. Pitto- 

 sporese), with evergreen foliage and berried fruits, 

 allied to Sollya. Propagation, by half-matured 

 shoots in sand under a bell-glass in gentle heat. 

 Soil, equal parts of fibrous loam and peat, with 

 sand. Elegans, 4', August, blue, seems to be the 

 only species introduced (syns. speciosa and Spir- 

 anthera Fraseri). 



PROSERPINACA. (MERMAID WEED.) 

 Aquatic herbs (ord. Haloragese) that may be 

 grown outdoors in summer, and kept in a frame or 

 cool greenhouse in winter. Propagation, by cut- 

 tings in sand or sandy soil in water. In open-air 

 tanks they may be grown in pots, pans, or baskets 

 just immersed in the water, or planted out in soil 

 if the water is shallow. Palustris and pectinata, 

 the only known species, have small white flowers, 

 during summer. The leaves of the last named are 

 finely cut and pi-etty. 



PROSOPIS. 



Evergreen stove shrubs and trees (ord. Legu- 

 minosae), with bipinnate and graceful leaves. 

 Propagation, by side shoots taken off with a slight 

 heel, in sand in a propagating case. Soil, equal 

 proportions of fibrous loam and peat, with sand. 

 Juliflora, 30', white, the Algarobo, is the one most 

 often seen in gardens. 



PROSTANTHERA. 



Greenhouse shrubs (ord. Labiate) with evergreen 

 leaves, and notable, in the order, for their round 

 shoots. Propagation, by seeds in heat during 

 spring. Half-ripened shoots in sand under a bell- 

 glass root readily. Soil, loam and peat in equal 

 parts, with plenty of sand. Good drainage is 

 necessary. Lasianthos, 4', June, purple lilac, is 

 handsome when planted out in a greenhouse. 

 Nivea, 3', grey ; and rotundifolia, 3', July, purple 

 (si/n. retusa) are less often met with than the first 

 named. 



Privet, MncTi (see Phillyrea). 

 Prometwa (see Zygopetalum). 



PROTEA. 



Evergreen shrubs (ord. Proteaceae), with leathery 

 leaves, and requiring cool greenhouse treatment. 

 Propagation is slowly effected by cuttings of the 

 young shoots just matured, and placed firmly in 

 pots of very sandy loam in a cold frame or pit 

 during summer. Stand the pots where they will be 

 shaded from direct sun, and cover with a bell-glass 

 or hand-light. Soil, fibrous loam, with a little peat 

 and sand, rendered more porous by the use of small 

 nodules of charcoal and finely broken pieces of 

 soft red bricks, well mixed together. Night tem- 

 perature in winter, 40, rising 5 by day ; summer, 

 as cool and airy as possible. A Heath house is a 

 good place for them. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



cordata, IV, Ap. , pur. elliptica, Ivs. elliptic. 

 (syn. cordlfolia). graiidiflora, 8', My., wh. 



cynaroides, H', Aug., pur. margiuata, 6', Je., wh. 

 rhodantha, 4', Je., red. 



PROTECTION. 



Fruit Trees on Walls. Peaches, Nectarines, 

 Apricots, and other valuable fruit trees flower at a 

 time when the blossom is liable to be injured by 

 sharp frosts at night and in the early morning-, 

 more especially if it had happened to be raining 

 or snowing the previous night. In these circum- 

 stances, it is often necessary to have recourse to 

 some temporary means of protection. Where the 

 coping consists of stone, permanent iron hooks may 

 be let in. Others fix a plank along the top of the 

 wall, into which hooks are driven from which to sus- 

 pend tiffany or canvas coverings. This canvas may be 

 fixed on thin rollers and made to roll up to the 

 top or drop to the base of the walls by means of 

 cords run through the hook or ring at the top. 

 Hough, stout poles may be stood against the 

 walls in a slanting direction, resting on the ground 

 about 2' from the wall. These will keep the 

 canvas off the trees, and save damage to the 

 blossom. These sheets of canvas, being in con- 

 venient lengths, may be drawn over the trees at 

 night if frost threatens, and pulled to the top or 

 let down to the bottom, according to their arrange- 

 ment, in the morning after the temperature has 

 risen. Glass copings fixed at the top and extend- 

 ing in a sloping direction about 18" from the wall 

 make a useful protection, as they save much daily 

 labour. The iron framework should be permanent, 

 but the glass may be movable. Some gardeners 

 use two or three folds of old herring netting 

 instead of canvas; others fix Spruce or Laurel 

 Cherry boughs among the branches of the fruit 

 trees while in blossom. The principal thing is to 

 check radiation, and so conserve the heat which 

 has accumulated in the wall during the day. 



Eoses. Dwarf Tea and Hybrid Tea Roses may 

 have their lower buds protected in winter by draw- 

 ing 3" or 4" of soil over them, leaving it there till 

 all danger is past. Standard Koses of the same 

 class may have dried Bracken twisted into the heads 

 during severe frost, but it should be removed 

 immediately mild weather returns. 



Palms. One of the common fan Palms, Trachy- 

 carpus excelsa, is hardy in the southern and western 

 counties, but it is convenient to erect a temporary 

 protection, by fixing canvas over a framework of 

 poles, to guard the leaves against damage by wind, 



Choice Shrubs whose hardiness is doubtful may 

 be protected by similar coverings on a sm.-ill scale, 

 but movable, so that they can be taken off during 

 the day. 





