180 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



during the busy season. No soil is better for the majority of bedding-plants 

 than equal parts of loam and leaf-mould, and a sixth pai-t of sand. 



430. Keep the entire stock of cuttings free from green-fly, thrip, and all 

 other insects ; cover up, water, and give air with caution and judgment, and 

 ever bear in mind that the beauty of next summer's garden is dependent not 

 only upon the quantity, but the health and the cleanhness of yo\ir furnishing 

 stock. 



431. In the reserve garden, in veiy severe weather, autumn sown annuals 

 should be protected by having some boughs stuck among them, or by being 

 covered with mats, canvas, &c. Dig and ridge all vacant ground, and get the 

 beds intended for the main sowing of hardy annuals prepared for this purpose. 

 Give beds intended for choice ranunculuses a hberal dressing of two-years-old 

 cow-dung, and lay them up rough, ready for planting next month. Protect 

 beds of hyacinths and tulips here or elsewhere dui-ing severe weather, as they 

 are often injured when coming through the soil. 



432. In the rose-garden, proceed with j^lanting and pruning hardy roses, 

 and protect Sea and China roses with boughs, covering round the roots with 

 old tan, cinder-ashes, &c. A list of the best varieties will appear next month. 

 Procure stocks for budding ; hberally manure all the ground occupied with 

 roses, and see that their roots are not injm-ed during the pi-ocess of digging. 

 Florists' flowers require attention. Water auriculas, polyanthuses, pinks, 

 carnations, &c., in frames, with care. Remove early blooms from polyanthuses. 

 Examine pinks in beds, and if any of the plants are heaved up by the frost, 

 press them firmly down in the soil. 



433. Collect materials, and form new rock-works. Stone is the only really 

 legitimate basis for scenery of this description ; but as this is not to be 

 found everywhere, and as the taste for rock-works is universal, why, we must 

 submit to have rocks of clinkers, debris of pottery, bricks, cement, chalk, 

 concrete, and timber. For position, form, and furnishing of rocks, see future 

 numbers. 



434. A collection of hardy heaths should be found near the rockery. A list 

 of sorts, mode of planting, &c., will appear in the calendar for Febi-uary. 

 Sweep up leaves ; roll grass and gravel ; remove all litter of dead or dying 

 plants ; and let the impress of neatness and the stamp of order be everywhere 

 apparent.— D. T. F. 



§ 3.— OrERATIOXS IN THE KITCHEN-Ga.RDEN. 



435. The work to be done in the kitchen-garden in January depends alto- 

 gether on the weather. In open frosty weather no opportunity should be lost 

 for wheeling manure on the vacant gi'ound. All the refuse about the grounds 

 should be collected and added to the manure-heap, and that burned or charred 

 which will not readily decompose, and added it. 



436. This is also the season when the forethought of the gardener may be ex- 

 hibited. He has to lay down his plan of operations for the year, or at least for the 



