115 
followed, is that from oak leaves, lightly forked in when decayed, 
and also applied as a winter covering leaving them till April, 
when they will be partially rotted and fit for that purpose. In 
all cases like the present, where experience has not produced 
definite rules for the guidance of the young cultivator, he must 
study nature. The usual places of growth of any plant should 
he regarded in respect to quality of soil, moisture, shade, as- 
pect, &c. and by imitating these in cultivation success may be 
rendered almost certain. It will be requisite to remember that 
pigs, foxes, squirrels, and mice, are enemies Ifom which Truffles 
must be defended. 
147 Fuschias. When in the open ground they should be cut down 
in October or November, and covered over with tan; or in the 
absence of this, with leaves, straw, or sand. IMany persons, 
thinking that part of their stems may survive the winter and 
assist the spring growth, suffer them to remain ; but it should 
be known that such stems, unless they can be completely pro- 
tected as in a greenhouse, will, in their gradual decay, act as 
S()onges on the roots, and exhaust their strength. Should the 
])lants have been neglected till frosts have partially destroyed 
their stems, it will, even then, be desirable to treat them as 
above described. 
148 Leaves, Withered. As with the stems of the Fuschia so it 
is with withering leaves. In their decay, they absorb, and as- 
sist in evaporating, the sap of the ])lant, without performing 
any useful office in return. Therefore, when leaves of any 
shrubby plant begin to wither, take them off immediately. We 
have seen orange trees, which have been removed at an unsea- 
sonable period, with their leaves drooping and partly withered. 
Some of these trees, by way of experiment, were entirely stripped 
of such leaves. These threw out young foliage and soon reco- 
vered ; whilst those on which the w ithered leaves continued till 
they fell off naturally, recovered with difficulty, and evidently 
suffered more than those which had a contrary treatment. It 
must not be forgotten that it is prejudicial to the course of na- 
ture to destroy the foliage of a healthy plant ; but here it was 
the choice of two evils — the destruction of the foliage, or fhe 
continuance of it when worse than useless. 
149 I.N'SECTS AND Laurel Leaves. Under Section 143 we gave 
an account of a method of destroying insects, by inclosing 
ADCTAKIUM. 
