194 MAKING OF A FLOWER GARDEN 



doing this it will be well to knock out both ends of 

 the box and set it with the closed side against the 

 weather, then if the leaves do become wet they will 

 quickly dry out and not remain a wet, moldy mass 

 about the crown of the plant. 



But dryness about the crown of a plant is impos- 

 sible if a poorly drained soil permits water to set- 

 tle about the roots in winter. There are many 

 plants which are not injured, but rather benefited, 

 by a wet soil in summer, but only marsh and aquatic 

 plants enjoy a damp bed in winter, so where there 

 is not sufficiently good drainage to insure the prompt 

 shedding of water the bed should be raised suffi- 

 ciently, by the addition of more soil or by cutting 

 down the surrounding soil or the digging of a drain- 

 age channel about and away from the plant, fol- 

 lowing the slope of the land, to insure against trou- 

 ble. 



Some plants are not injured by the presence of ice 

 about the roots in winter, while others are very 

 sensitive. I have a beautiful variegated woodbine or 

 vitis on the north side of the house where the ice 

 banks up over the roots every winter, but it comes out 

 flourishing in the spring, though not afforded the 

 slightest protection throughout our long, severe north- 

 em winters ; the drainage, however, is perfect. 



I think it always is better to leave a plant unpro- 

 tected, as to its top, if it is hardy enough to endure 



