184 
PRESERVATION OF FLOWER-GARDEN PLANTS IN WINTER. 
The conclusion arrivable at is, then, that a superabundance of moisture in any 
shape in connection with plants in winter is highly injurious, and especially in the 
case of flower-garden plants, from their being mostly soft-wooded, and most unpro- 
pitious to their proper and successful preservation : tins being admitted, our next 
business is to point out the means of being rid of the evil, which we can best do by 
directing attention to the most suitable construction for the preservation of the 
plants we are considering, at the period under review. 
What is known as a cold pit, it is taken for granted is understood is the best 
erection for our purpose : suppose one was going to be constructed, a situation 
naturally dry should first be chosen ; but that suretyship might be doubly sure in 
reference to this, a main point, efficient drainage should be provided. Its size 
would, of course, depend upon circumstances, so also would its form ; if span- roofed, 
its aspects should be East and West ; if a lean-to roof, it should have a North aspect ; 
and a heating apparatus of some description should be provided, to resort to in 
extreme cases. To an erection constructed upon these principles, having regard to 
those we have been dwelling upon, we would confidently consign all the most tender 
plants that are employed in the flower-garden, certain they would there be quite 
safely and better preserved than they could be elsewhere. There is no peculiarity 
about the cold pit above spoken of that would render it less useful in summer than 
any similar erection, but rather the contrary; for instance, the drains intended to keep 
it dry in whiter might be so arranged and formed that they would act as channels to 
produce a circulation of air in summer, &c. 
The advantage of adopting the plan of keeping plants that we wish to direct 
attention to, does not stop where the foregoing paragraph left it ; for look at the 
privilege of having a greenhouse uncommoded by, and indeed, completely free of 
plants with which, in winter, we find them too generally clogged. On the score of 
economy, also, the method has numerous recommendations ; as witness many minor 
gardening establishments, where the vinery and peach-house are made the recep- 
tacles of large quantities of plants of this class, too often to the injury of the legal 
occupants, by the prevalence of influences that excite to grow, and which have for 
the foundation of their origin moisture, which in this case is first injurious in engen- 
dering undue cold and damp, then follow measures to dispel the latter, till the ill 
result alluded to is accomplished ; whereas, were a proper state of things only 
tolerated, the presence of the plants would not be injurious. 
The principle which is chiefly the subject of this paper, in an horticultural point 
of view is capable of being made extensively serviceable ; it would be irrelevant to 
pursue it much further on this occasion : another may afford an opportunity of doing so. 
Preserving flower-garden plants in winter is very important, because there are 
hundreds of gardens which would not be less well adorned with the more choice 
plants that flourish in our climate in summer, were they employed, than when 
devoted to more common things. The difficulty of winter-keeping overcome, no 
other obstacle would exist to interfere with such plants being extensively used. 
