120 THE GARDENER. [March 



ter. Especially be careful to give air on all possible days, as its influ- 

 ence during the spring months is of vital importance upon plants that 

 are expanding into growth ; the healthier and more robust this growth 

 can be obtained, the better for the plants all the rest of the season. 



Every villa resident should possess a small mowing-machine, and 

 thoroughly acquire the use of it : no more exhilarating occupation can 

 be found for the amateur gardener before breakfast than an hour's 

 employment of it. Apart from the physical results involved, the 

 pleasure derived from the appearance of the work done is very great ; 

 indeed, few things add so much to the decoration or the enjoyment 

 of a garden, as a smooth, cleanly-mown lawn. Just now the appear- 

 ance of it may be marred by worm-casts, but a good birch broom, 

 wielded by a strong arm, will soon disperse them, and with them also 

 any other refuse that might have congregated. Until the grass 

 requires mowing, and that will soon be, the broom should be often 

 used, and the roller also, if one is at hand. Then when the mowing- 

 machine is brought into requisition, the ease with which it will work, 

 and the greater neatness of that work, will more than repay for the 

 expenditure of the previous labour. Perhaps in nothing is our amateur 

 horticulturist so much lacking as a knowledge of the most efficient 

 way in which to apply his labour. Many men will work, and work 

 continuously, and yet be always in a muddle (a characteristic, by the 

 way, of the doings of many of our professional men), a defect excus- 

 able in amateurs, because they have not gone through that routine of 

 garden labour that begins with a boy washing pots and ends only with 

 the retirement from work altogether. To aid him in surmounting 

 this defect, let me advise him always so to apportion the work of his 

 garden as to be able to go over the whole of it at regular intervals, 

 and make a thorough job of it as he goes. Thus, when the lawn has 

 been mown, the beds and borders should be cleaned and rendered 

 tidy, and, if not already done, let them be neatly forked over with 

 care, so that any hardy flower-roots growing therein may take no 

 harm ; the edges of the grass, both to the borders and the walks, 

 should be neatly trimmed, and then, when the soil has been dressed, 

 the paths weeded, swept, and rolled, it is to be hoped your pleasure- 

 garden will vie for tidiness with the internal arrangements of 

 your habitation. Then the kitchen-garden must have its necessary 

 attention • and here, possibly, matters are somewhat chaotic, owing to 

 the unfavourable weather that has prevailed. The pruning of all trees 

 and bushes should be done first ; that accomplished, and the refuse- 

 cuttings burnt, then some manure must be got on the unoccupied 

 portions of ground, and be at once dug in. This is glorious exercise, 

 especially before breakfast ; there is nothing that will give our amateur 



