182 
CONSERVATIVE WALLS. 
the summer, to cover and adorn with flowers any vacancy in the lower portion of 
the wall. This proves a convenient spot for cultivating many beautiful tender 
plants, such as Achimenes, Alstroemeria, Tropwolum tricolorum, and other slender 
free-flowering species, that can hardly be kept completely healthy in the ordinary 
flower-pot. 
The planting should take place as early in the season as security from frost can 
be depended upon. By this means there will be a longer summer to grow in, 
and perfect growth ; whilst, if deferred, it is more than probable that at the close 
of the summer the new shoots will be too watery and tender to stand through 
winter without much additional trouble and expense, as well as injury and loss. 
A trellis in front of the wall, to tie the shoots to as they form, is an essential 
appanage ; and it is a matter of some moment to have the young wood regularly 
secured as it extends ; for when left to be blown about by the wind, the sap is 
prevented from flowing so freely, and the progress of the shoots is retarded. It 
is chiefly required before the plants have covered the space allotted to them ; 
afterwards, they may be permitted to grow more loosely, to take off any appear- 
ance of stiffness and uniformity ; only observing to prevent them from pushing 
out too far from the wall, and acquiring a negligent and untidy wildness. Most 
shrubs of anything like a bushy character in their ordinary form, push out far 
too much breast- wood when trained against a wall, and once established ; hence, 
it will be necessary to go over them occasionally in the summer time, and remove 
a few wherever they appear crowded and incapable of gaining a complete exposure 
to air and light. This is a feature which considerably affects the proper ripening 
of the wood, — an all-important point in the management of tender plants in the 
open air. Much pruning, however, may be in some measure prevented, and with 
benefit, by disbudding in spring, as gardeners commonly do with Peach-trees; 
nevertheless, some degree of thinning will always be needful in autumn, to allow 
the sun to act more fully upon those shoots which remain. Some time in October, 
or November if the season continue mild, the plants should receive their final 
dressing preparatory to passing the winter. The shoots which were before allowed 
to grow unrestrained, must then be fastened as close to the trellis as possible, in 
order to give them a better prospect of existing uninjured till spring ; and if this 
be neatly performed, it will not detract much from their beauty. 
"Whatever be the mode of winter protection, whether by canvass, screens, or 
glass lights, there will be no occasion for it to be set up till frosty nights com- 
mence in autumn, and even then it will not be requisite, nor yet judicious, to 
cover the plants, except on nights when frost is likely to occur. During the day, 
and on mild nights, it is preferable to leave them exposed ; and that not only at 
the commencement of winter, but throughout its duration. No favourable chance 
must ever be neglected for exposing them ; neither should fires ever be kindled, 
except when other means are insufficient to keep the temperature above freezing. 
The reason for this is obvious : if plants during their cessation from growth are 
