January 3, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
281 
this operation is hardly necessary, seeing how readily 
they may raised from seed. The latter should be sown 
thinly in lines, and covered with a very small quantity 
of soil. After the seedlings have made a few leaves 
they may be thinned out to 6 ins. or 12 ins. apart, as 
the vigorous growth and the size of the flowers amply 
repay this amount of space. A bed or large mass of 
The Bride when in bloom resembles at a short distance 
away a sheet of driven snow. This is one of the 
novelties sent out this season by Messrs. Hurst & Son, 
to whom we are indebted for our illustration ; and we 
may add also that Mr. P. McArthur holds a portion of 
the stock. 
--«E<«- 
PROTECTING PLANTS DURING 
. WINTER. 
It is evident that without protection of some kind during 
severe frosts, no collection of plants could be kept 
together. With the thermometer indicating 22° of 
frost by night, and 15° at noonday, it becomes most 
necessary for gardeners to collect and apply all the 
protecting material that can 
be got together to stave 
off for the time being the 
bad effects produced by this 
biting atmosphere. For this 
purpose, more especially 
where only an insufficient 
supply of protecting material 
is stored, I would direct 
attention to the following 
modes and materials by 
which tender plants may be 
protected, all of which I 
have practised and used, and 
which are easily applied and 
very effective. 
To protect Calceolarias, 
Pansies, Pentstemons, An¬ 
tirrhinums, and many other 
half-hardy plants in frames, 
a coating of partly decom¬ 
posed stable litter strewed 
over the sashes or lights, 
and packed up the sides of 
the frame, will provide suffi¬ 
cient protection against our 
severest frosts. By shaking 
the litter before it is 
applied the manure may be 
separated from the straw, 
which is most desirable, as 
it greatly improves the non¬ 
conducting properties of the 
litter ; and during open or 
mild weather, this covering 
may be removed by the 
use of a brush, and placed 
tidily round the edges of the 
frame, where it may lie in 
readiness for use again on 
the first reappearance of 
frost. Hyacinths, Tulips, 
Liliums, Narcissus and many 
other bulbs require protec¬ 
tion from severe frost, and 
for this purpose the dense 
branches of the common 
Spruce Fir may be used, 
which will be found to provide sufficient shelter, and 
when neatly arranged on beds or borders are not at all 
objectionable in appearance. Where Fir branches are 
not obtainable, partly decayed leaves will supply their 
place. 
Roses require a little protection, and to effect this the 
ground should be well mulched annually with well- 
rotted manure, and tender hybrid varieties will be more 
safe if bedded round with Brake or wild Fern, which 
affords ample and sweet protection. Newly planted 
climbing Roses on walls require to be screened from 
hard frost, and mats or strips of canvas answer this 
purpose well. Should hard weather continue for some 
time, the utmost caution must be exercised in removing 
protection from plants. Nothing affects them more 
injuriously than sudden transition from semi-darkness 
to perfect light, or from shelter to full exposure. Such 
shocks to their vital energies often induce death, or 
puny growth and disease. Newly planted ornamental 
Conifers, shrubs, and also fruit trees, should have their 
roots protected during the first winter with stable litter, 
to prevent their roots being injured. Plants standing 
in nursery rows shelter and protect each other, and 
their thick massive branches and foliage shield their 
roots from frost. Their condition is very different 
when placed thinly in newly-made shrubberies or 
orchards ; hence the necessity (if their lives and 
health are taken into account) of covering the surface 
with some good non-conducting material.— J. Charlton , 
Farnley Grove Gardens, Corbridge-on-Tyne. 
-o-X-c-- 
THE DAHLIA IN NEW SOUTH 
WALES. 
I have been much interested in the notes which have 
appeared from time to time in your columns on Dahlias, 
more especially in connection with those which are 
termed “Cactus” varieties. Now if I understand the 
term rightly, only those which come near to the type 
(D. Juarezii) in form are entitled to the name of 
Cactus, but as the trade catalogues do not supply 
the required information, there is great difficulty in 
finding out which sorts are really of the Cactus 
form, as distinguished from those which are mere 
‘decorative” varieties, and it is only by carefully 
perusing the notes in The Gardening World that we 
in this distant part of the world can draw any dividing 
line between the two classes. 
The Dahlia in this country seeds very freely, in fact 
so freely that we have been obliged to banish the single 
kinds from our gardens as a veritable nuisance. The 
Show and Cactus varieties almost equal them in 
the propensity to yield seed, but the blooms not being 
so numerous the seedlings are not quite so troublesome. 
Some of the self-sown Cactus sorts we have saved 
for trial and further selection, and there are some very 
creditable flowers among them. Still, by far the greater 
number, as far as classification goes are mere nondescripts, 
some having straight petals, some flat, and others 
twisted into every imaginable form. They are neither 
show nor Cactus varieties, and yet are very pretty, 
many of them, regarded as from a purely decorative point 
of view. If the growers at home would rigidly separate 
the true Cactus forms from the mere decorative ones 
in their catalogues, it would be a great boon to those 
who live in far-off lands, and who have no means of 
judging for themselves. _ Only a fortnight ago, when 
writing out an order to send to England, I had great 
difficulty in selecting those of the recognised Cactus 
class.— G. 11. K., Homebush, N. S'. TV., Nov. 18</i. 
-->X<-- 
WORK IN THE SNOW. 
To have the earth covered so long with a thick coating 
of snow, is to us in England quite a new experience, 
and one which we have found difficult to appreciate. 
Without doubt, of all weather aspects, a heavy snow¬ 
fall gives the greatest trouble to gardeners, because it 
does so largely tend to the suspension of ordinary forms 
of garden work. Iu such a case it is indeed difficult 
to provide labour which is both useful and needful, 
whilst it is just as difficult to any humane man to send 
his labourers home, and leave them to starve or go to 
the deuce. When such is the case, little matter for 
wonder is it if men declare that being left to starve in 
the bitter winter weather, they retaliate in the summer 
by neglecting their work in busy times, or in leaving 
their rather hard-hearted employer in the lurch. But 
whilst common humanity commands that labourers 
shall be employed in hard weather, it is difficult to 
provide needful work. A 
good deal may be done in 
clearing away snow from 
roads and footpaths, and 
from all areas where the 
thaw later on will be produc¬ 
tive of great inconvenience. 
It is always found that 
when the thaw does come, 
those who have removed 
the snow aTe relieved from 
much of the discomfort 
attending upon snow water. 
Snow should not be run on 
to places where its long 
existence may be productive 
of harm. A large body of 
snow, enduring long and 
thawing slowly, is produc¬ 
tive of much cold, and 
may prove injurious to 
near vegetation. All the 
same, ample space can 
usually be found to which 
it may be safely carted 
from gardens, and where 
its thawing will not be 
productive of mischief. 
Labourers prefer snow 
removing to being idle, 
and even if the product 
is not absolutely one of 
profit, yet it is useful in 
merely providing work. It 
is an odd place where there 
is no cutting up or faggotting 
of wood to be done in bad 
weather. Out from this also 
can usually be furnished 
some Bean rods and Rea 
spray, and perhaps stakes for 
Roses, Hollyhocks, or other 
flowers. Sticks of all sorts 
and sizes are needed for 
flowers. These, too, may 
be made from Apple and 
Pear tree, Hazel bush, or 
other trimmings, or from 
stout laths, specially rent thick to produce tying-up 
sticks. 
It is of exceeding use to have a plentiful supply of 
these things to hand in the summer, and if there be 
grumbling in hard weather that men in making these 
useful things are kicking their heels off, at least some 
compensation is found in the saving of time when busy 
in the summer, because of the admirable stock of tying 
sticks furnished. Labels specially offer a capital 
means of finding employment this hard weather. We 
can buy wood labels so cheaply ready made, that too 
often we are tempted to refrain from making any at 
home. But all experience shows that a good home¬ 
made label will last four times as long as will purchased 
or shop labels, for these seem always to be made of old 
and sappy wood, and are as brittle as glass. 
The making of good stout labels in the winter is 
always profitable, as not only is labour well employed, 
but the product is of so very useful a nature, that too 
much praise cannot be bestowed upon it. Every 
gardener doubtless has specially useful methods of 
employing labour in hard weather, and the head must 
be a poor one who fails when thus put to the test.— A. D. 
