722 GARDEN MANAGE^IE^T. 



I find Cuthill's Black Prince the best for the early season, and if they can 

 have a little bottom-heat, so much the better. Plants in 48-sized pots also do 

 best for early work, the cramping principle again inducing fruitfulness. But 

 strawberries remind me that my work here is done; and I would bid the 

 old year farewell in the words of Withers, who, if neither a rich man nor a 

 great poet, certainly sings sweetly and well : — 



" Thou old and cold shivering year. 

 If ow tottering downward to thy grave. 

 Thy thin robe fluttering in the wind. 

 Scanty thy locks with ivy bound ; 

 Thy plume a feather of the reed, 

 All fringed thick with hoary rime ; 

 Chillis thy breath, hollow thine eye. 

 And from thine ears hang icicles : 

 I see thee cowering o'er the hearth, 

 Snapping the few long-hoarded sticks. 

 And swelling out thy wither'd cheeks. 

 In puffing them into a blaze. 

 Thou rais'dst upon the pond and pools 

 A cream of thick transparent ice, 

 To lure the urchins to their fall ; 

 Then laid'st a flooring o'er the streams. 

 And where the barges glided once. 

 The skaters swiftly skim along. 

 Well, thou hast witness'd strange events. 

 And in thy annals much is writ, 

 That some would blush to have reveal'd ; 

 But I have loved thee through thy life ; 

 I loved thy smiling infancy. 

 Thy maiden bloom and woman's grace. 

 Thy matron care and hoary age, 

 And I will watch thee to the last. 

 And gently press thine eyelids down. 

 And bless thee for the many friends. 

 The sweetest flowers and richest fndt. 

 Thy passage hath produced me." 



2261. While grateful for these and all other blessings, let us listen to Mrs. 



Sigouniey, bidding us : — 



" Look within thy heart,' 

 While the poor shiver in their snow-wreath'd cot ; 

 Or the sad orphan mourns ; and if thou find 

 An answering pity, or a fervent deed. 

 Done in Christ's name, doubt not to be an heir 

 Of that true wealth which winter hoardeth up, 

 To buy the soul a mansion with the blest." 



D. T. F. 



§ 7. — Hotbed and Frame Cutivation. 



2262. Cummhers and Melons. — Little can be added to what has been 

 already said. Let the weather be the principal guide as to giving air, &c. ; 

 be careful that the frames are ventilated without causing any draught, which 

 mio-ht injure the plants considerably. See that the heat is maintained, and 

 cover with mats at nigbt ; but do not shorten the days more than they are. 

 heT mats should be taken off as soon as it is light in the morning, and not 

 put on till it is getting dark at night, so that they may have all the daylight 

 ^hejr can ^et. 



