THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
January 8. 
2215 
jects three inches; the slate is laid in cement, and over 
it a finishing course of bricks, also in cement, the bricks 
standing lengthways across the wall, and I never saw a 
neater finish. It was recommended to the gentleman, 
in my presence, to run three lengths of wire along this 
top by means of T pieces, just as they train wires up a 
rafter, the bottom part of the T being a wedge to drive 
into, the brickwork, then to plant the strongest of the run¬ 
ning roses on the outside of the wall between the fruit- 
trees, and train them up with a single stem to the top 
of the wall, and train them right and left on the wires; 
the roses to be planted from fifteen to twenty feet apart, 
according to the distances between the fruit-trees; and 
; I began to think what Mr. Errington would say about 
1 this hind of decoration, but, after a while, I recollected 
that the same idea was recommended, many years since, 
in “ The Gardeners’ Magazine,” and, I think, by Mr. 
Gorrie, of Annat Lodge, in the Carse of Gowrie. 
D. Beaton. 
EROSTED PLANTS. 
Eor the few misfortunes, the cry of which has 
; reached our ears, the quick transitions in the weather, 
the suddenness with which frost has come and again 
departed, may plead not an apology, but some extenua¬ 
tion for inattention and its consequences. Everything 
is so quiet, calm, and serene in the evening, that plants 
are left standing close to the window frame without even 
the intervention of a blind. Pits are left uncovered, 
and perhaps a little air on, and then the wind, which, at 
bed-time, was veering a little from due west, reaches due 
north, whilst we are snug and comfortable in bed; and 
the waning moon, rising about two or three o’clock, is 
attended with such a galaxy of stars, that, were we only 
awake, would at once tell us that the radiation of heat 
from the earth was proceeding rapidly, being totally un¬ 
obstructed by any mantling of clouds, but the results of 
which we first learn by the effects produced on our nose 
and fingers as we step over the threshold in the morn¬ 
ing; and secondly, when, to our alarm, we find the leaves 
of our plants atiffer than the glazed material which the 
clever artistes manufacture into artificial flowers, 
Even in such a case as this, far from uncommon, the 
experienced man, who gives himself time to think, is 
not helplessly nonplussed. It is seldom that the first 
mornings’ frost, in these circumstances, is powerful 
: enough to commit irreparable injury, unless we assist 
the mischief with our own imprudence. If plants in 
the window are removed to the darkest and coldest place 
possible, just a little above the freezing point, the 
leaves will thaw gradually; if sprinkled at all, the very 
Coldest water should be used, but it is quite as well to 
Use none at all. The pit, on the same principle, must be 
shut up, and then covered up from both the light and 
heat of the sun, which generally shines brilliantly after 
such a morning, and until the warmer air, in spite of 
your covering, has gained access by degrees, and com- 
I bined with the heat radiated from the interior of the 
pit, has been sufficient, thoroughly but slowly, to thaw 
the frosted plants, not a glimpse of sunlight should they 
receive. In my younger days I have seen frosted 
plants irreparably injured by allowing a bright sun to 
thaw them. Then we had little but that hard, drubbing 
schoolmaster, experience, to guide us; no cheap sterling 
gardening literature, explaining the “why’s” and the 
“how's” was open to our inspection. What was ex¬ 
cusable then is inexcusable now. Privilege must ever 
be associated with responsibility, and that responsibility 
is now more than ever felt. Feeling everything the 
reverse of a shade of envy, it requires not the foresight 
of the Seer to perceive that rising youth will soon take 
the place of our veterans as teachers and instructors. 
With all our knowledge, however, the want of a little 
forethought, a little reflection, often causes us to fall into 
sad blunders. Not long ago, some nice plants in a 
window very highly frosted, were ruined by removing 
them from one room and placing them close to a bright 
fire in another. In another case, they were equally 
ruined by sluicing them all over with warm water, and 
yet the actors in both cases were so generally intelligent 
that they would have looked mocking laughter, had you 
hinted the idea of placing frozen meat, or frozen vege¬ 
tables in boiling water. The law of extremes must, 
therefore, ever be guarded against. But as prevention 
is better than cure, it is better to prevent the plants j 
ever being frosted. Moving plants from the window to 
the centre of the room, and, in extreme weather, throwing 
a cover over them there, will generally keep them quite 
safe. With respect to pits, the inexperienced had better 
cover them every night during winter. The best mode 
of doing so, and the principles involved, have been fully 
alluded to. When the night proves fine and warm, 
there will thus be an unnecessary labour, but then you 
can sleep without night-mare visions of frost. As the 
first night’s frost is seldom severe, the covering may be 
slight, and removed in a mild morning, the first thing. 
I advise this covering in all such cases, because no signs 
can be safely reckoned on. 
As some, however, might wish a few omens to be a 
sort of secondary guide, I will mention the following. 
During winter, whenever the atmosphere is clear, expect 
frost, unless the external temperature is high. The free 
radiation of the heat from the earth produces cold. 
When the weathercock points in the direction of east 
and north, expect cold. With the wind in these direc¬ 
tions, and a clear atmosphere, we may expect it to be 
most severe. Approaching at, and a little past full 
moon, the temperature of the night will, in general, be 
as equable as could be consistent with a growing in¬ 
tensity of cold from a continued clearness of atmosphere. 
In her first quarter, other things being equal, we have 
generally the greatest degree of cold from sunset to 
moon-setting. In her last quarter we have generally 
the greatest degree of cold from moonrise to sunrise. 
Of course, I do not hold out these as anything like cer¬ 
tain rules, but as a sort of leading-string, the result of 
many observations. In the case of plants very slightly 
protected in these December and January nights, I 
should sleep more comfortably when I knew the moon 
was gone to bed before me. If she rose long before me, 
and brought a clear atmosphere with her, I should 
expect to have something to do as soon as I got out. 
Taking these at their nominal value, safety consists in 
due preparation. What at times is lost in labour, is i 
saved in anxiety, and the avoiding, now and then, of an 1 
unpleasant disappointment. 
There are two things connected with the management j 
of cold pits, which many of our friends do not seem 
fully to comprehend, though they have been often 
alluded to. First, they have no idea how plants can be 
kept in such places, as well as in their greenhouses, 
however dry and secure the walls, and however carefully 
covered, and they object to “ the continual trouble and 
litter!” True, but then there is nothing got without 
labour and trouble; and these given, many of our green¬ 
house plants will succeed better in one of these dry, nice i 
pits, than they will do in our pretty houses made to look 
at. In fact, in very severe weather, the plants in the latter 
structure can only be easily kept in the highest health 
when something like pit treatment is given them. This 
will at once be seen by those who last season read what 
was stated about the temperature and the ventilating of 
houses, the capacity of heated air for moisture, &c. A 
strong artificial heat inside would only aggravate the 
mischief. Instead of increasing the difference in severe 
weather, we should try to approximate the temperature 
inside and outside of the glass by reducing the interior 
