PROTECTION OF PLANTS. 51 
latitudes, are not hardy when exposed to the vicissitudes 
of our winters, but in their own localities they are snugly 
stowed away under deep snow, all ready to burst into 
flower as soon as the snows are dissolved, where summer 
succeeds winter, without any spring. But when exposed 
here to the hot suns of February and March, succeeded 
by cold freezing nights, when the ground is bare, by the 
process of freezing and thawing, the plants are thrown 
out of the ground, and soon perish. Even many quite 
hardy herbaceous plants are thus destroyed. The only 
remedy to prevent this damage is to give all herbaceous 
plants a slight protection, which should be done before the 
piercing cold winds of December set in. 
Leaves afford the best protection, and of these I prefer 
oak leaves, although any other kind will do very well. 
A thick covering of manure from the stable is injurious 
for many plants. Deep covering with any material is to 
be avoided. A covering of leaves three or four inches 
thick, is sufficient. A little brush laid over the leaves, 
will prevent. them from being blown off by high winds. 
Do not be in a hurry to take off the covering before the 
first of April, and if the weather is severe, let it remain a 
few days longer. Some of the hybrid Roses, denominated 
pillar Roses, are best protected by laying down and cover- 
ing with earth, in the same manner as we protect Rasp- 
berry canes, but care must be taken to prevent the stems 
from being broken. "When taken up in the spring, strong 
stakes or poles should be substantially fastened into the 
ground, to which they should be tied to prevent the action 
of the wind, and keep the bushes in shape. Thus treated, 
I have seen pyramids of Roses, twenty feet high, which, 
without this protection, would have died down to two or 
three feet of the ground. Roses will bear any quantity 
of manure, and should receive a heavy dressing of stable 
ov any other coarse material, applied to the roots in No- 
