January 2.1 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 215 
itself will throw a quantity of the water wide of the 
earth in the pot; and, secondly, because a healthy grow¬ 
ing plant will so far prerent the earth being sodden as 
to hinder a violent expansion by frost. There is, how¬ 
ever, so much truth involved in your inquiry, that it is 
next to impossible to keep plants healthy in balconies 
with the common treatment that is generally given them 
in winter. The first essential to success is either a 
covering above to throw off the rains, or a temporary 
covering for each pot, of any light material, so formed 
as to be fixed to the rim, and leave space enough in the 
centre for the stem and branches of the plant. Here 
little or no water would enter, except through the 
medium of the water-pot. This covering may be of tin, 
and of any dull unconspicuous colour; the best substi¬ 
tute for it—nay, it should be used along with it—is a cone 
of green moss over the earth, as frost will not penetrate 
it, and after a little time, even when uncovered by the 
tin, no rain will penetrate of any consequence. Keeping 
this in view, a second means of success will be the using 
of double pots, or discarding them altogether for large, 
roomy, artistic vases. The use of the double pots is, 
that the lesser may he set inside the larger one, and the 
space between stuffed with moss, or any other non-con¬ 
ducting substance; the drier the material is for this 
purpose, whatever it may be, the better it will answer. 
This, and the moss cone and covering above, will pre¬ 
vent the soil being frozen, unless in extreme cases. 
We must recollect that a hardy plant in an exposed pot 
is very differently situated from a similar plant growing in 
the ground, with a suitable supply of moisture in the soil; 
if that is completely frozen, the plant can gain no ad¬ 
vantage from it. I mentioned the other week about the 
parching effects of a dry cold air; this would be more 
telling where the plant could receive no supply to make 
up for the waste. Hence, plants in pots, in such circum¬ 
stances, have brown, and blotched, and killed leaves, 
when their neighbours in the open ground are unin¬ 
jured. Here, too, independently of their beauty, we 
recommend for such purposes large, thick, hard-burned 
vases, and especially for winter use the lips may be very 
spreading. If well covered at the surface, it will require 
a long continued severe frost greatly to affect them. A 
third and additional means of success would be to sub¬ 
stitute wooden baskets and vases for all compositions 
of earthen and stone ware; its non-conducting proper¬ 
ties would ensure from cold, and the covering from 
above would prevent unnecessary moisture. They 
might bo made of almost any shape or pattern, and 
painted to resemble stone, or even china. By using 
separate pieces, a large basket or vase might thus be 
formed, and then it matters little whether you use pots 
inside or not. Even for single plants a wood box or tub 
is far preferable to a common pot. A slender basket, 
even of wire, will answer better than a common pot if 
the sides are well stuffed with moss. 
A fourth means of success is carefulness in watering. 
.After they are fairly established, they will want but little 
during the winter, though they must not be allowed to 
get dry; give water, however, when necessary in fine 
weather. The moss on the surface will tend to prevent 
exhalation there to a great extent; water will chiefly be 
wanted to supply perspiration from the foliage. If sunny 
mild weather renders the water-pot necessary, there can 
be no difficulty in the matter; give as much as is re¬ 
quisite. But if you know that the soil is dry, and a dry 
frosty air has lasted, and is likely to last, for several days, 
you may give a little at the roots, and replace the moss ; 
but instead of deluging, it would be preferable to syringe 
the dry tops with cold water, and that will instantly be 
turned into a slight coating of ice, which, while it will not 
in jure such hardy plants, will prevent the dry air robbing 
them of their essential juices. I have noticed hardy 
plants killed, and their twigs split into ribbands in a 
dry frost, when similar plants in similar circumstances 
stood a lower temperature uninjured, when coated with 
ice and hoar frost. 
And, lastly, common loamy soil, with a little sand and 
leaf mould, will do for all I have incidentally mentioned; 
but where American plants, such as Rhododendrons, 
Kalmias, Andromedas, and some of the more delicate 
evergreens should he preferred, sandy peat soil will be 
requisite ; and greater attention must be paid that they 
are not allowed to become over dry in whiter. The 
mulching of moss on the surface will be one of the best 
securities from danger. R. Eish. 
HOTHOUSE DEPARTMENT. 
STOVE rLANTS. 
Medinilla. —A family of stove shrubs, remarkable for 
fine foliage and handsome panicles of rosy white flowers, 
sometimes succeeded by bunches of very pretty berries 
highly coloured, and by that addition continuing their 
beauty for a long period. These handsome shrubs are a 
great acquisition to our hothouses, for independent of 
their beautiful flowers, their foliage and general habit 
are truly pleasing. 
M. ep.ythhophyi.la (Red-leaved M.); Brazil. — A 
curious plant with handsome foliage. The flowers are 
small, produced in bunches out of the old branches 
below the leaves. Only worth growing for its fine 
leaves. 3s. Gd. 
M. speciosa (Showy M.); Brazil.—This is very 
properly named; for when it is either in flower or fruit, 
there are few objects in the stove that can surpass it in 
beauty. There is now in the stove at Pine Apple Place 
a plant of this kind 21 ft. high, well clothed with large 
handsome foliage. It showed its buds of flowers between 
the highest places early in September, and was in full 
flower by the end of the month. Each drooping panicle 
(they were five in number) continued to produce a suc¬ 
cession of flowers through the months of October and 
November, and the berries succeeded the flower through 
the next month, and are now of a beautiful purplish red 
colour, and as handsome as so many bunches of small 
grapes,—the largest bunch measuring six inches long, 
and four inches through at the widest part. In this state 
the pilant is quite as beautiful as when in full bloom. It is 
a very desirable plant, which ought to be in every col¬ 
lection, however small. 5s. 
M. Siebo'Lihana (Dr. Sicbold’s M.); Brazil and E. 
Indies.—This noble plant was sent by Dr. Siebold, 
three or four years ago, to the great horticultural estab¬ 
lishment of Louis Van Houtte, at Ghent. Like the 
preceding species, it has large handsome leaves, and 
branching pianicles of rosy white flowers. The chief 
points of difference are that the pmuicles spiring from the 
axils of the leaves, and are upright, not droopiing, like 
M. speciosa; the flowers are of a deeper tint; the 
stamens are bright red, and the anthers deep chocolate 
or violet. Like the former species it is a handsome 
desirable plant, as yet, rare in collections. 15s. 
M. magnifica (Magnificent M.); Java.—We have 
written highly admiringly of the beauty of the two pre- 
ceding plants, bow then can we write in sufficient 
piraise of the grand and noble plant, M. magnifica! 
The panicles of flowers spring from between the highest 
pair of leaves; they are drooping, and branching, and 
from a foot to fifteen inches long. The buds of the 
flowers before they open are of the brightest red; the 
corollas when fully expanded are of a deep rose colour. 
The panicle is surrounded by four large bractes or floral 
leaves of a whitish colour, and nerves of a pale rose. 
These are very handsome, but unfortunately soon fade. 
This fine plant was received by Messrs. Veitcli and Son, 
Nurserymen, at Exeter, direct from Java, through their 
