152 



GARDENING FOE THE SOUTH. 



tender plants are much more likely to be killed thereby from 

 the increased evaporation at the surface of fresh dug soil. 

 Through the summer, after each good rain, as soon as the 

 ground will do to work, stir the surface and kill the weeds, 

 leaving it in a light, friable condition, to be undisturbed, un- 

 less to destroy any weeds that appear, until another rain 

 renders further hoeing necessary. Continue this until the 

 plants approach blossoming, or begin to cover the ground, 

 after which hoeing, if performed at all, must be as shallow 

 as possible. A soil thus managed is always open to atmos- 

 pheric influences, and what moisture it may have or receive 

 is better retained. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



PROTECTION FROM FROST. 



Late spring frosts are the terror of gardeners. In sec- 

 tions of country subject to them, tender plants should not 

 be planted early. As mulched or newly dug soils are much 

 more liable to the white frosts of spring, mulching should 

 not be applied to Irish potatoes, etc., until danger of frosts 

 is over, nor should tender plants be hoed when a change 

 to cold may be anticipated. If a frost is apprehended, 

 plants in hills are best protected with boxes, vine shields, 

 or plant protectors placed over them. Rows of beans or 

 potatoes can be secured by covering them with wide 

 plank placed on blocks two or three inches above the 

 plants. " Almost all the modes of protecting plants are 

 founded on the doctrine of radiation, and hence the fact 

 should be kept constantly in mind that all bodies placed 

 in a medium colder than themselves are continually giv- 

 ing out their heat in straight lines, and that these straight 



