J 74 
NUTTALLIA PAPAVER. 
cultivation ; most individuals thinking the trouble of keeping it through the 
winter greater than its summer appearance will fully compensate. "With respect 
to this species, however, and many others of like habits that require the same 
temperature, such an inference is unjustifiable and erroneous. They are much 
more easy to preserve than half-hardy shrubs, and, in the case of N. papaver, a 
sufficient number of seeds are annually matured to enable the culturist to manifest 
a degree of indifference as to whether the old specimens are preserved or destroyed. 
Plants raised from seeds sown as early as possible in the spring beneath some 
protective [awning, will have every opportunity of developing their flowers in the 
same season, because the species does not naturally blossom till the commencement 
of autumn. The surest method of protecting them in the winter, where frames 
exist in abundance, is to place the plants in pots, and retain them constantly in 
frames. If this system be practised, every pains must be taken to prevent them 
from becoming too tender, by completely exposing them whenever the weather is at 
all propitious. Extreme humidity must also be guarded against, since, to plants 
of this description, it is exceedingly prejudicial. 
When a stock of young plants is possessed, and these are properly housed, or 
where no frame or greenhouse can be conveniently spared, the old plants may be 
covered, to the depth of four or six inches, with decaying bark, or some substance 
of a similar nature. But the best mode of preserving all plants of this kind in the 
open ground, is to prepare a number of small wooden covers, constructed in the 
form of pyramids or hand-glasses, and place one of them over each plant needing 
shelter, filling up the interior with dry hay or litter. These would exclude both 
rain and frost, and could be employed or taken off at pleasure, according to the 
state of the atmosphere. The expense of such covers would be very trifling ; their 
appearance, if neatly painted, far from unsightly ; and, with a little attention, they 
would also be found durable. 
For our drawing of this species, we are obliged to Messrs. Young, of Epsom ; 
from whose establishment it was obtained in August, 1838. 
The specific designation explains itself ; applying almost exclusively to the 
flowers. 
