Wintering Plants In Cellars

Many plants, such as Agaves (Century Plants), Oleanders, large Cactuses,

etc., that have grown too large to be accommodated in the sitting-room

or conservatory; can be successfully wintered in any moderately dry,

frost-proof cellar. After placing these large plants in the cellar, it

will not be necessary to give them any water, the object being to keep

them dormant all winter, which can be done by keeping the soil as dry as

possible, but not so dry as to allow the plants to shrivel, or become

withered. Large plants of the kinds mentioned, often form desirable

ornaments during the summer time, but it is impracticable, in most

cases, to bring them into the house in winter, but they can be kept for

years by cellaring through the winter as stated. Large Geraniums, Salvia

and Heliotrope roots, and even Tea Roses, and Carnations, can be kept

moderately well in the cellar by trenching them in dry, or moderately

moist sand. Thus many choice specimens of these plants that we are loth

to pull up and threw away when winter approaches, can be successfully

kept over until the next season. It is a needless expense to purchase a

stock of new plants for the garden every year, when we can winter many

of the old ones in this simple and inexpensive manner. The leaves of all

deciduous plants should be removed before they are put away in this

manner. The foliage should remain on the Oleanders and Carnations.