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THE PROTECTING TENT. 



The Protecting Tent is a plant structure which we regret to see so 

 seldom used. The expense of glass-houses places them beyond the reach 

 of many plant cultivators, but the Protecting Tent is of so economical 

 and at the same time of so useful a character, that we cannot sufficiently 

 recommend it to those who are partial to exotics, and at the same time 

 have not the means of gratifying their taste. It is true that by this means 

 we cannot preserve during winter so great a variety of plants as in the 

 greenhouse or conservatory, neither can the Protecting Tent be con- 

 sidered so elegant and commodious a lounge ; but by a judicious selection 

 of plants, this may be made an interesting and useful sti-ucture. 'VMiat 

 we mean by the Protecting Tent is a portable frame-work erection of any 

 desired dimension, of which the annexed diagram will give some idea, 



formed of timber either dressed and painted, or of larch poles, with the 

 bark taken off, to be erected over a selection of exotics, planted out in a pre- 

 pared border, or erected over them grown in pots, vases, large tubs or boxes 

 placed upon a prepared floor of well-rolled gravel or scoria, and covered 

 dming winter with canvass, patent tarred paper or felt, or any other 

 cheap and flexible material. Such a protection would secure many plants 



