SOi 



GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



earth with his presence. He goeth about tapping at dormant buds, 

 shifting roots, coiled-up leaves, and dead-like stems ; and they at once 

 spring forth from their winter's sleep, and leap out of their winter's cloth- 

 ing ; and there is such a display of comjDany, with new dresses and new 

 fashions, as is never seen but in x\pril. I think the same sj^irit gives 

 most lovers of gardening a tap also as he passes. Certain it is that their 

 energies are generally stimulated to the full during the month ; and it 

 is well that it is so, for so many new visitors make large demands, and protec- 

 tion, food, and training are still necessary to ward off disaster and save from 

 ruin. The number of plants increases daily during the month. Even seeds 

 stored away in dry papers and closely-shut drawers have felt the warm breath 

 of the spirit of life, and are tapping at the prison bars with earnest entreaties 

 — " Let us also live ! Life ! life ! — we are dying for want of life ! " Let us 

 first of all attend to them, and place them where their coiled-up vitality may 

 unwind itself into the perfect structure of vegetable life — in other words, be- 

 come living plants. All seeds intended to flower during the summer should 

 be sown during this month. Lists and descriptions have already appeared of 

 hardy annuals. In places where they are extensively grown, another sowing 

 might be made this month. It would be best to sow now where they are in- 

 tended to remain. The modern system of furnishing the flower-garden has 

 limited the use of annuals. In gardens, however, where the family may not- 

 be always at home, or where the proprietor is indifferent to more permanent 

 and durable flowei-s, a very brilliant display may be made for several months 

 with annuals. 



833. Swindon, in his " Beauties of Flora," gives some very ingenious ideas 

 of planting, which are repeated in Loudon's '' Encyclopaedia of Gardening." 

 He e:ives a list of eighty-nine different sorts, arranged in six different classes. 

 By affixing a number to each soi't, he readily indicates on his plans the kinds 

 employed, and their relative position. He also arranges a circular clump, in- 

 cluding all the eighty-nine sorts, the six heights being placed in six concentric 

 circles, placing a large persicaria, or oriental mallow, in the centre. The 

 general appearance, he says, is the same on every side, rising gradually from 

 the edge upwards, the highest plants meeting nearly in a point at the centre, 

 and no two flowers of the same colour or shape being seen together. His 

 principle is excellent, and might be of great ser- 

 vice, although many of the varieties he specifies aro 

 now comparatively worthless. 



S34. j\lr. John Caie, than whom no gardcne' 

 living occupies a higher position for taste in sucL 

 matters, has proposed several geometrical flower- 

 gardens of great beauty ; he has also laid down plans 

 for famishing them, so as to have them in flower 

 the greater part of the year. Although his design 

 differs from the accompanying one in many im- 

 portant respects, especially in many of his beds being in pairs, the accom- 



