MONTHLY CALENDAR. 175 



418. In the garden, January is the last month of preparation,— the processes 

 of vegetation will soon be in full progress ; for 



" Nature even in her sleep is never still," 

 and even now the sap is stirring in her veins. The good steward who has 

 husbanded his time, may now seat himself, and with folded arms give himself 

 up to conterj.plation,— not, however, without an eye to the future; for however 

 far-seeing and industrious he may have been, he has still some work of pre- 

 paration to complete. But what of him who has neglected to take time by 

 the forelock ? He must toil after the old scythe-bearer in a vain struggle to 

 overtake him, for tiiTie once lost can never be recalled ; and there are many 

 things to be dore in the garden in autumn, which cannot be so well done in 

 any other season. There are, however, many things which may yet be done 

 towards recovering lost time. Among these may be included all organic 

 changes, such as taking in nev/ grovind, making new walks, draining, planting, 

 and if the weather continues mild, pnming. Even at this dead season of the 



year, — 



" When icicles are hanging 



Like spears from eveiy tree. 

 And beautiful to ga^e on, 

 Is the frost-work tracery ," 



a few flowers venture to put foi-th their blossoms ; the garden anemone, the 

 yellow ci-ocus, and the herb-rosemary, " for remembrance," the winter aco- 

 nite, the Christmas rose, with its white petals and yellow anthers and dark 

 green leaves. The mazereon and the lauvustinus enliven the otherwise de- 

 serted winter garden, and the snowdrop, in particular, the first pale blossom 

 of the unripened year,— all these are found in secluded and sheltered spots in 

 the garden, and under the hedgercvs, towards the end of the month, in our 

 less-exposed co juliss. 



§ 2.— CPEUATiONS IN THE FLOWEK-GaRDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 



419. The old year is departed, and the somniferous influence of its latter 

 days will soon be destroyed by the energy of its new-born successor. Tho 

 gardener's attention must now be concentrated on the future, rather than 

 diverted by the past. All arrears of labour due to the past year must at once 

 be discharged. Nothing tends more to mar the success of gardening opera- 

 tions, than dragging through the necessary work, three weeks or a month 

 behind the time proper for its performance. Not only our comfort, but our 

 success, demands that we become thorough mastei's of our work, instead of 

 itUowing our work to master us. The pecuHar fickleness of our chmate ren- 

 ders gardening precarious and difficult enough with every advantage of judg- 

 ment and foresight. It will be well, therefore, to bear in mind, that the work 

 can only be done, ' ' weather permitting. " For instance, it is impossible to dig, 

 plant, or sow, when the frost has set its strong seal upon the earth. It is bad 

 practice to dig in snow, and worse than useless to attempt anything on the 

 surface of the gi'ound when an excess of moisture has converted it into mud. 



