30 



dust, or some other porous substance; this will save them 

 from drying out so last, for the less water j'ou give them, with- 

 out allowing them to wither for want of it, the better they will 

 be. The surface or roof of the pit must be of glass ; In build- 

 ing the pit take this into consideration, and make it of a size 

 that you can get sash to cover it. When the weather will 

 permit, the sash should be raised to give the plants air and 

 dry up the damp. For cold weather straw mats or board 

 shutters, or both, should be provided to cover the sash, and in 

 \evy cold weather it may become necessary to use additional 

 covering. The cooler the frame can be kept the better, not 

 allowing the temperature to go below thirty-five degrees nor 

 above fifty degrees. On the approach of cold weather the wall 

 should be banked up to a level with the glass, with soil or 

 manure. If but a few plants are to be wintered over, thej' may 

 be kept in the cellar. Such as we have said will do under the 

 shelving of the cold pit, will do verj' well in a comparatively 

 dark, cool, dry cellar. Those that we have allowed to live on 

 the shelves mu5t have some light, or thej^ will perish. Erect 

 shelves near the cellar windows: on these shelves put the 

 plants ; they should be in the same established state as if thej' 

 were to be placed in a cold frame. Enough water to keep them 

 from withering is all they need. The temperature should be 

 from forty to forty-flve degrees, not higher, or they will make 

 a weak, blanched growth, wliich may prove fatal. 



