ON PLANTS TO FLOWER LATE IN AUTUMN. 
113 
of September. When frosts occur thus early, they bring a change over the whole face of 
nature, and, comparatively speaking, sweep away every vestige of a flower at one blow. 
The effect of such frosts is ever lamentably evident ; but the mischief accomplished is 
increased in proportion as they are early or severe. And, however much we may regret 
the occurrence of what we describe, we can do little to soften the traces of desolation 
they leave behind ; and frequently less, by guarding against the mischief we some- 
times discover to be approaching. It not unfrequently indeed happens, that we are able 
to discover the approach of our enemy, but the utmost we can do by way of fortifying 
against his attack is, to fly to the various descriptions of covering materials, employing 
them to guard the beds in the most conspicuous situations, or the choice masses of 
plants, and it may be, some particular specimens flowering in a favoured point of 
view, &c. What is sometimes practised in cases of early frost is, dashing water 
upon the frost-bitten vegetation immediately before it commences to thaw: and very 
fair success, when freezing has not been too keen, sometimes results from such a 
washing, in the instance of Dahlias or other succulent plants. But, as we have 
already said, all we can do amounts to a mere trifle ; for though we may be success- 
ful in saving our plants to the extent we have stated, we are too well pleased with 
such success to risk its being lessened ; and as the plants saved by our exertions are 
invariably of importance, we forthwith hasten their removal into complete security, 
by taking them up and propagating, or disposing of them as circumstances may 
require, &c. Therefore, the conclusion we arrive at here, and which, without excep- 
tion, is practically arrived at, is, that upon the first appearance of frost, the floral 
season is over. We naturally, then, turn to our conservatories, greenhouses, &c. 
But here, too, things begin to have a faded appearance ; the energy of our 
plants is departing, their flowers droop, are weaker than they recently were, begin to 
be produced in less abundance ; the liveliness of their colours, and their natural 
hues, no longer prevail. It being seen then, that the charming accompaniments of 
summer, both naturally and under artificial circumstances, are ceasing to exist at the 
season in question, we must apply to Art, and see what can be done when Nature is 
assisted by her best aid. The succeeding paragraphs will be devoted to doing so. 
It is well known that among the almost infinite variety of plants with which we 
are acquainted, there are those which, by developing their flowers at the season Nature 
induces them so to do, gratify us by their presence throughout the various seasons 
of the year. Great accommodation and large means enable such to be commanded 
to a gratifying extent, as regards numbers and variety. But limited resources natu- 
rally can attain but few of the luxuries we allude to. We purpose therefore to 
supply, in some measure, the deficiency, by bringing into notice some of the plants 
which are most suitable for our object, and to show the manner in which they can 
best be made so. 
The season we have in view — from the close of autumn to the period when forced 
flowers come in — is in a singular manner distinguished for scarcity of blooming 
plants. One naturally blooming then, and almost invaluable from doing so, we 
VOL. XIII. NO. CXLIX. Q 
