Hi Jim & Peter The reference to Archangel may come from the name of a northern region of Russia called Arkhangelskaya Oblast which has a coastline on the Arctic Ocean. The capital of this region we know as Archangel [Arkhangelsk in Russian] Do lime trees grow that far north? Peter in Sydney -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Peter Taggart Sent: Wednesday, 12 February 2014 9:45 AM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] archangel mat it is a mat for protecting frames from frost in spring, it measures 5 feet by 8 feet. see here, page 94 https://archive.org/details/… Peter (UK) On 11 February 2014 22:30, Peter Taggart <petersirises@gmail.com> wrote: > A *mat*, made in Russia, from the inner bark of Lime trees, used for > covering garden *frames* to keep out frost. *...* Greenhouse *plants* of > slender growth, with brightly-coloured, funnel-shaped *flowers* in > summer; they are suitable in cultivation in *...* > > > On 11 February 2014 22:13, Jim McKenney <jamesamckenney@verizon.net>wrote: > >> Can anyone tell me what an archangel mat is? I ran across the term in a >> British gardening book published in the early 1950s: the way the author >> wrote, it seems that by that time they were already becoming uncommon. They >> were recommended for covering cold frames in severe weather. >> Is the term an old generic term for some sort of floor mat? >> >>