CONSERVATIVE WALLS. 
18S 
j|jpt in a warmer temperature than just what is sufficient to preserve them from 
“jury, they progressively become more and more susceptible of harm ; thus, if 
?vered up too much from the ordinary atmosphere in the early part of winter, 
ey will be far more liable to be destroyed towards spring by a low temperature, 
an they would have been had a contrary course been pursued. We are the 
ore urgent in enforcing this point, because it is one of vital moment in the culture 
r tender exotics on a conservative wall. Many plants which had existed through 
e depths of winter, have been lost on the approach of spring, owing to that 
■ecocity of growth which too much protection fosters. 
Winter management, then, is merely to consist in guarding the plants from 
)st, and at the same time endeavouring, by frequent well-timed exposure to the 
r, to delay as long as possible the increasing tendency to renew growth. But 
le growing principle once re-excited, the capacity of the plant to endure cold is 
minished — the new parts being exceedingly tender, require more warmth to 
lable them to go on extending with vigour. A frost which before would have 
’t no traces of injurious action behind it, will now be fraught with danger. 
Ills is a rock on which many split, after having carried their charge through 
e most intense cold in perfect safety : as soon as mild weather appears, they at 
-ice set about removing the means of protection, forgetting the delicate organs 
;at it encourages to form, and the spring frosts, which are still to be apprehended 
Id guarded against ; hence the shoots are destroyed, or starved into an imbecile 
iseased growth, and much time is lost before the plant recovers a healthy 
•indition. It is no wonder that many plants fail to thrive and flower well under 
! sh treatment ; for the shoots cannot reach maturity before they are overtaken 
1 another winter. 
. At Chatsworth the plants on the conservative wall are protected in winter 
ilth canvass curtains suspended from an iron rod placed beneath a moveable 
i)oden coping, and fastened at the bottom at short distances by means of rings 
j d hooks. The hooks are fixed to a board about ten inches broad, which runs 
! mg the bottom, and is attached by hinges to a frame-work firmly set in the 
pund : when the curtains are drawn back, the board lays partly over the border, 
Ijth the hooks towards the earth, and makes a convenient path to stand upon 
' lilst dressing the trees. The curtains are opened and closed by cords moving on 
] lleys; in the day-time they are neatly drawn up and secured to the projecting 
1 ttresses. There are two to each compartment ; hence, to cover the wall" these 
1 set in the middle ; and as one curtain is provided with eyelet-holes, and the 
<|ier with rings to pass through them, they are readily fastened together by 
liming a cord through each of the rings from the top to the bottom of the wall. 
I e whole, except the board into which the hooks are driven, can be entirely 
i|r)oved in summer. In severe weather a quantity of dried fern is thrown up 
Jiiinst the bottom of_the curtains, and the flued walls are warmed by gentle fires. 
It must be remembered, however, that this is in a cold elevated district, where 
