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THE PROTECTING TEXT. 



exotics as soon as possible, extending over a surface equal to that covered 

 by one of the splendid tents used at their exhibition fetes, and which, if 

 the plants were retained in pots plunged in the ground, would form an 

 interesting feature, even during \\-inter, in their garden, and serve as 

 data to those who, not having the same means, would, nevertheless, be 

 anxious to ascertain the comparative hardiness of exotic plants. 



The Honourable and Reverend William Herbert, than whom few have 

 shone more conspicuous in the study of plants, appears to have thought 

 favourably of this mode of culture. " The vigour,'^ he observes, with 

 which mules of the genus Crinum, and many other plants, grow out of 

 doors against the front wall of a stove, persuades me that a great variety 

 of plants might with a little care be cultivated better in the open ground 

 than under glass, if the border in which they are to grow were properly 

 prepared, and a tarpauling, or any water-proof covering, placed over 

 them at the times when it might be requisite to exclude either rain or 

 cold. The covering might hang on the two sides of a strong longitudinal 

 pole, like the two slopes of a roof, and be made to roll up either with or 

 without a spring. There are many plants which seem to enjoy a cool atmo- 

 sphere, but will not flower nor thrive vigorously without the stimulus of 

 heated earth at the root. Having chosen a situation where a furnace 

 and boiler could be placed under ground," he " would carry the smoke- 

 flue as far as its heat would extend on one side, and hot-water or steam 

 pipes in a different direction, as might be found convenient, enclosed in 

 a stone or brick flue, to as great an length as its influence might reach. 

 In such a border he beUeves the genus Hedi/chium, and many others, 

 would flower perfectly vrith the assistance of fire-heat in the summer, 

 requiring nothing in winter but a covering to throw off the wet, and the 

 heat might be turned into other pipes, for the advantage of plants which 

 might require the warmth in winter rather than in summer. In front 

 of a wall, a moveable verandah, which might be either ornamental or 

 made of thatched hurdles, or hurdle-gates, would throw off the wet, 

 which is the principal cause of injury in winter, for many shrubs wiU 

 endure the access of severe frost to the head, if aU wet can be effectually 

 excluded from the base of the stem and from the root by any sloped 

 heading. Under such a verandah, with occasional heat to the flue during the 

 early summer, and perhaps in severe frost, AmarylliSy Brunsvigia, BulifrWf 

 Nerine, HcsmanthuSy and all the allied genera of African bulbs, as well 

 as the South American, would certainly succeed better than by any other 

 treatment. I believe," continues this authority, " that not only those, 

 but even some of the ti'opical Crinums would succeed better so than in 



