212 Cap for protecting Dahlias from aulwnnal Frosts, 



81 



neighbours', and before one half of them are in flower. These 

 frames will protect the plants from the perpendicular frost until 

 the roots are ripe. The supports of the frame answer, also, for 

 supports to tie the plants to. The top of the frame may be 

 taken off, and put on, at pleasure ; or bent back, by taking out 

 the wire. When these frames are once made, they are easily 

 kept up, and they will endure for many years, with little repair. 

 In many places, supports for dahlias are not got without trouble 

 and expense ; and, after all, they do not protect the plants from 

 the frost ; but my shade will do so. My object, at present, is to 

 protect my dahlias from autumnal frosts, which nip all the ten- 

 derest plants, such as the Mrs. Elphinstone, the Lady Milner, 

 and the Conqueror of Europe dahlias, when in full beauty. These 

 frames will also shade fully expanded flowers from the sun, when 

 you wish the fine colours to be preserved. If the above direc- 

 tions be properly attended to, the result will be satisfactory. 

 Valleyfield Bank, Pennycuick, near EdinhurgJi, 

 March 12. 1837. 



The model sent to illustrate the above paper is 18 in. long. The 

 cap, or head, which may be described as a four-sided cupola, is 

 13 in. on the side at the lowest part, or rim ; and the perpendicu- 

 lar height of it is 5 in. In j'%-. 81. a represents the stake which 

 supports the cap; 6, the four side branches to which the dahlia 

 shoots are tied ; c, a wooden peg for fastening the tenon of the 

 cap into the mortise of the stake ; d, a hooked wire attached to 

 the stake, and adapted to an eye in the stem of the cap, to make 

 sure of holding the latter fast; e, the surface of the ground. 



The skeleton, or frame, of the cap is shown by the letters 



f to /. This figure is a geometrical elevation of one side, in 



which f is the summit where the two ribs that form the four 



