12 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



and tame one. Further, walls seldom form suitable back- 

 grounds for the several plants that produce flowers 

 before leaves. The earliest flowers are obtained from 

 walls, or close palings, facing south, but even on these 

 the fragrant flowers of Lonicera, Chimonanthus, and 

 Corylopsis, also the jasmine, etc., should be protected 

 when severe frost arrives at the time of budding or 

 blooming. Branches of evergreen, bracken, straw, are 

 all useful if securely fastened, but archangel mats are 

 best, tying these on to wires or a light movable frame- 

 work fit to shelter the plants at night and also by day, if 

 hard frosts prevail. Also mulch the ground (see page 2). 



Could not this covering be done to plants away from 

 walls ? Of course, especially in small gardens. Many 

 early rhododendrons, for instance, remain for weeks in 

 perfection if they are guarded from frost by the over- 

 casting of stout tiffany. Laurustinus, that is frequently 

 ruined by one sharp frost, would yield abundant flowers 

 in the shortest days if protected well, and this applies to 

 all. Only by this method can most growers secure 

 bushes 15 ft. or so high of the highly-perfumed Chimon- 

 anthus. All that is necessary are a few strong stakes, 

 driving these in around the bush to be protected, leaving 

 them high enough to keep the covering off the plants. 

 Security against wind is had by tying the covering to 

 the stakes. Such coverings are of course only put on 

 when threatening weather occurs. 



No winter flowering shrub should be pruned in 

 summer or autumn, as this would likely result in the 

 cutting off of all next winter's flowering wood. Prun- 

 ing, if necessary, should take place in late winter or 

 early spring. Shoots of these shrubs may be freely cut 

 when in flower — in fact this is usually the satisfactory 

 way of pruning them. Branches may be cut several 

 weeks before the flowers open naturally. Put in water 

 in a moist hothouse, flowers appear in a few days. 



