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