184 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, December 16, 1856. 
especially such fine-rooted species as Heaths. Having 
fixed upon the best position circumstances will allow, 
and having taken every precaution to shelter the plants 
from excessive heat and heavy rains, the grower may 
rest assured, in nine cases out of ten, his plants will pass 
through the summer safely, and be ready, when the 
season arrives, to be removed into the greenhouse in 
renewed health and strength. 
It may he necessary to go over them two or three 
times to clean the surface of the soil of moss, lichens, 
aud weeds. When that is done stir the surface gently, 
and if the soil is much below the rims of the pots add 
a thin layer of fresh soil. These periodical cleansings 
not only add to the health of the plants, hut also give 
them a neat, tidy appearance, and show that the grower 
has a regard for his plants even when out of doors. 
Winter Management. —This season I comprehend 
from the time when the plants are brought into the 
greenhouse up to the time when they are placed out 
j of doors again, so that the summer may be considered 
' their life out of doors, and the winter their life in-doors. 
When the weather becomes too cold for the plants to be 
safe in the open air, then prepare, without delay, for 
their removal. In the first place, the greenhouse and 
pit should be emptied of their summer inhabitants, and 
be thoroughly cleansed. Every part that will admit of 
it should be white-washed, adding to the lime a small 
quantity of sulphur; then scrub the stages and floors, 
and see that the glass is in good repair and waterproof. 
After this purifying process has been gone through, set 
the house and pit open for a day or two to dry thoroughly. 
In the meantime go over the Heaths, let the soil he 
stirred, and the surface renewed, the pots also well 
scraped and scrubbed with a hard brush, making them as 
clean and bright as new ones. Look to the drainage. If 
the hole is stopped up with soil, and worm-casts appear, 
turn the ball out of the pot; catch, if possible, the worms, 
and destroy them; and clear away the fine soil amongst 
the drainage, leaving the egress of the superfluous 
moisture open and clear. There must be no slurring 
over these points, for upon their being properly, dili¬ 
gently, and firmly attended to depends the health of the 
plants during the winter. 
When all are ready, that is, the house and the 
plants, choose a rather dull, cloudy day, and rapidly 
remove the plants into the house: there again bring 
system into play. Choose such plants as are fit for 
positions the farthest from the front first; place them so 
that the branches of each plant do not touch its neigh¬ 
bours. The grower had far better throw away half his 
stock than crowd them on the stage or in the pit. I 
know it requires a considerable amount of courage and 
resolution to cast away plants that have, probably, been 
nursed and cared for, perhaps, for years; but let the 
grower reflect for a moment, and he will be convinced it 
is better to do so than injure the whole of his stock. 
After the plants are all arranged in their winter quarters 
let the floor be washed over, and all left clean. Then, 
should the weather be mild, give plenty of air every 
day, and give water rather abundantly for a time, always 
observing that each plant is watered according to its 
individual wants. Indiscriminate watering is very in¬ 
judicious, especially in winter. Give more to the free- 
growing species than to such as are slow in growth; hut 
observe that all are kept moist. About every six weeks 
go over the whole stock, and clear the surface of the soil 
of all decaying leaves, moss, &c. 
By way of making' a show it is a good plan to place 
a few of the handsomest species on empty pots, elevating 
them as stars above the rest. Such plants so placed 
break the uniformity of the rest, giving a pleasing and 
allowable variety to the appearance of the collection. 
The heat necessary for the Heath is very moderate 
during winter. The thermometer in severe frost may 
be allowed to fall to 33°, that is, just one degree above 
the freezing point. Air should be given on warm days 
sufficient to lower the heat to that out of doors; indeed, 
Heaths cannot be kept too cool during winter. I have 
frequently, when there was no appearance of frost, left 
air on all night with the best effect. After a severe 
frosty night the sun often breaks out clear, and then the 
thermometer in the house rises rapidly. Though it may 
be frosty out of doors, yet in such a case air must be 
given to keep down the internal heat. Heaths will bear 
two or three degrees of frost without injury. 1 have 
had the pots frozen to the stage so firmly that they could 
not be removed without breaking the pots; yet the plants 
were not injured. Supposing part of the collection is 
in a pit, let the sides be well banked up either with 
earth or litter well beaten in. If such embankment is 
thatched with straw no frost can penetrate it. When 
severe frost is apprehended cover the glass well up with 
short straw and mats. The best plan is first to place a 
single mat on the glass, then a coveriug of short, dry 
straw two or three inches thick, then another good 
strong mat over that, and let these last be firmly fastened 
down, so as to prevent their being blown off during the 
night. If the next day should prove very dull and very 
frosty the covering may be allowed to remain on. If a 
heavy fall of snow takes place, with a continued frost, 
let the whole remain. Snow itself is an excellent pro¬ 
tector from frost. Observe, however, at the first oppor¬ 
tunity to remove the coverings, to give light to the 
Heaths in the pit. I have, however, known Heaths 
covered up closely for a fortnight or three weeks 
without any perceptible injury. It is not advisable, 
though, to keep them imprisoned in darkness longer 
than is absolutely necessary. 
As soon as a thaw takes place remove the coverings, 
sweep the glass clean, and draw the lights clean off 
the pit. Do this every day, but cover up securely at 
night; for our climate is so uncertain that it is better to 
be safe, by taking the precaution to cover up every night, 
than to run the risk of being caught by a severe frost 
some morning early before daylight. Plants in pits re¬ 
quire very little water during winter. When the lights 
are off on a fine day an opportunity is afforded to look 
them over and give them the necessary supply. 
As a matter of course, as the season advances towards 
spring, less fire will be needed for the greenhouse, and 
less covering for the pit. The cultivator, however, 
should always be on the alert, and, if frost is likely or 
is taking place, apply immediately the necessary amount 
of protection. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued .) 
EXCESSIVE USE OF THE KNIFE.—PLANTING 
VINES AT THE ENDS OF THE VINERY. 
I am induced to make the following observations on the 
strength of what I saw in a Vinery here. The house is 
forty feet long, has eight Vines, each Vine has four rods. 
Some of the Vines had sixty bunches, and there were alto¬ 
gether about four hundred bunches of good Black Hamburgh 
Grapes. I do not boast of this quantity, nor am I an advo¬ 
cate for heavy cropping; but, seeing how they had been 
handled previously, and their present forwardness, I resolved 
to let them take their swing. The border has not been 
renewed for the last seventeen years, at which time it was 
made and planted, and is under a principal walk of the 
kitchen-garden. The Vines have invariably carried the same 
quantity of fruit as there is this year. What I observe has 
been effected in this Vinery merely by “ chance ” serves to 
confirm the observation that often by accident we are brought 
to a knowledge of the truth. 
We see borders made of the richest stuff possible; the 
Vines are planted in it, and make wonderful growths, so 
pleasing to the gardener; but by-and-by he comes, and with 
