105 



THE LADIES' PAGE. 



" Come, gentle Spring, ethereal mildness, come. 

 And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud. 

 While music wakes around, veiled in a shower 

 Of shadomng roses, on our plains descend." 



Thomson. 



All lovers of a garden will most heartily join in the great rural 

 poet's invocation to Spring ; for the time is fast approaching when 

 the tender plants, that with so much care and attention have been 

 nursed through the winter under glass, must be trusted to the mercy 

 of the weather in the flower-garden beds ; and if a gay garden is 

 expected, not a day must now be lost in making the necessary pro- 

 vision by potting-ofF spring-struck cuttings, if that has not already 

 been done. Cuttings of the plants we have spoken of in former 

 papers may yet be struck for the purpose of filling any beds that are 

 likely to be made vacant in June by the removal of spring-flowering 

 plants. 



As space is a most important consideration at this season of the 

 year, it will be advisable to turn out early in this month, if the 

 weather is favourable, all the les^ tender things, as Pentstemons and 

 Snapdragons, by which more room will be made in the pits, &c. 

 for such plants as may not yet be risked in the open ground. When, 

 however, a sharp frost threatens, mats, or some other protective 

 material, ought to be spread over the recently-exposed plants. Not 

 only will pit-room be gained by planting as early as it can safely be 

 done, but the emptied pots can be replenished with other plants, 

 and thus a smaller stock of these fragile utensils will be required. 

 Such minute matters of economy are never lost sight of in a well- 

 ordered garden. 



Although our gardens are as yet less attractive than they will be 

 some months hence, when a greater display of floral beauty is exhi- 

 bited, there are now sufficient objects of interest in the spring-flowers 

 and the unfolding buds to induce frequent walks therein ; so that it 

 will be requisite to pay more attention to keeping than has been 

 necessary during the last few months. If the flower-beds are mar- 

 gined with box, it will most likely require clipping ; if with turf, the 

 edges should be cut true before the beds are filled : the grass itself 

 will also probably require mowing in the beginning of this month ; 

 for it is advisable to commence this troublesome but necessary pro- 

 cess early in the season. An allusion to this subject, by way of 

 reminder, will be sufficient now ; we shall therefore resume our 

 remarks upon the most desirable plants for beds. 



For producing a gorgeous mass of colour, no plant surpasses the 

 scarlet Geranium — a name which, by the way, might be changed 

 with advantage, inasmuch as some of the varieties have pink, and 

 others what is termed peach-blossom-coloured flowers, and there is 

 one in existence which actually has white flowers. Many new kinds 



VOL. III. NO. XXVIII. I 



