232 
the sun. Another reason is, that in a warm sunny place a 
plant is stimulated into early growth, and subsequently suffers 
from the late frosts of spring ; while, in a situation to which 
the sun does not reach, a plant commences growth later, not 
earlier, than elsewhere, and thus avoids getting into a tender con- 
dition at an unfavourable season. We have seen this remarkably 
exemplified in the Tree Paeony, which flowers abundantly on 
the border of a shrubbery facing the north, and has its blossoms 
as regularly cut off by frost in the warm nooks of a southern 
exposure. Two things are evident, if these observations are 
just. The first is, that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, 
to acclimatise exotics in low gardens incapable of drainage ; 
the second is, that some situations are naturally so favourable 
for this purpose, that skill is scarcely necessary to produce 
success.” 
Generally speaking, small town gardens are ill calculated 
for acclimatising plants. Even if care has been taken to drain 
them properly, and the soil has been made light and friable, by 
the admixture of old building rubbish, sand, and decayed 
leaves, all of which are excellent for the purpose; still such 
gardens seem to possess a moisture of atmosphere, and want of 
ventilation, during winter, that is uncongenial to such purpose. 
On the other hand, we have seen many of our friends, in 
country towns, with a few yards square of land attached to their 
houses, so contrive to cultivate it, during summer, as to abash 
the very nobility of their neighbourhood. Beds and stands of 
florists’ flowers; groups of brilliantly flowering half-hardy 
herbaceous plants; with walls and trellis-work clothed with 
climbers, all of which have flowered to admiration, and 
produced a fairy scene where least expected. Not unfre- 
quently is a small greenhouse attached to such gardens, which 
affords winter protection to very many of the choice plants, 
which in more congenial situations bear full exposure, or find 
ample protection in the cold frame. For the information of 
those who may be desirous of garnishing their gardens with 
some of the more rare specimens of nature’s dainties, we will 
add the practical results, from exposing half-hardy plants, 
obtained by several cultivators, which may fall under the head of 
211 Acclimatisation proved. At Prestonkirk, so far north as 
near the 56th degree of latitude, and not very near to the 
