MONTHLY CALENDAR. 267 



chief to plants than chilling them with water of much lower temperature than 

 the atmosphere they are in. On this account, even soft-water wells will not 

 supply it so warm as it ought to be ; and, if it must be used direct from the 

 well, it is desirable the chill should be taken off by a little heated water. 

 These various points are most important in forwarding the cultivation of those 

 occupants of the garden called, :because they have been improved by seedling 

 varieties, " florists' flowers and plants." 



717. Our valued correspondent, the Eev. H. P. D., sends us some most 

 seasonable directions also, of which we avail ourselves. 



718. Mats for Frames. — As a substitute for the Russian garden-mats, which 

 are expensive, and often not warm enough for protection against frost, a very 

 durable and efficient mat may be made of the long stout reeds which are 

 used by thatchers and plasterers, and which, in the parts of the country in 

 which they are grown, may be bought for about tenpence or one shilling a 

 fathom of six bundles. 



719. Cut the reeds into lengths of 4^ feet for the width of the mat ; work 

 them in bunches about 1 h inch thick, the bunches to be tied tight together with 

 strong cord, in three places, each with a single tie : the mat will thus present 

 a succession of rolls of reeds strongly tied together, forming a strong warm 

 covering for frames and pits. 



720. The mat can be made of any length that may be required, and if 

 rolled up and stowed away in a dry place, will last for years. 



721. Protecting Bedding -plants.— It is always desirable to get bedding- 

 plants out as early as possible, and yet there is much danger both from wind 

 and frost in so doing. I have found it an excellent plan to stick sprays of ever- 

 gi-eens, Scotch and spruce firs, in different parts of the beds as a protection. 

 By this means the force of the wind is broken, and the plants take hold of the 

 ground sooner : the tender leaves also are saved, which otherwise not un- 

 frequently turn brown, and fall off, retarding the growth of the plants. 



§ 2.— Operations in the Flower-Garden and Shrubbery, 



722. This is generally a busy, but by no means a genial month. March 

 dust is said to be worth a king's ransom ; but the winds that upraise it arc 

 especially rough and biting, harsh and boisterous, and especially severe upon 

 weak and tender plants ; indeed, trees, plants, and shrubs that may have borne 

 the rigours of winter with impunity, often succumb beneath the chilling blasts 

 of March, Therefore, if any plant, not quite hardy, has not hitherto been 

 protected, that protection should now be afforded. The precaution is mora 

 necessary in seasons where there has been little or no early winter, especially 

 after the disastrous effects of such winters as 1860, which left impaired consti- 

 tutions and sickly growths. When weakened by previous disease, mismanago* 

 meat, or disaster, sMG\xivQQ%Q.'&AraucariaimlricatajCedr'dsDeodarafl'i% 



