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CHAPTER XII. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 



January. — January may be called the dig- 

 ging-month, as almost the only Gardening 

 operation that can be performed in it is digging, 

 or rather trenching, the ground ; and even this 

 cannot be done unless the weather is open and 

 the ground free from frost. Xothino; can be 

 imagined more desolate than the appearance 

 of the flower-garden in this month. Perhaps 

 the Christmas rose may be in flower, and a few 

 lingering blossoms may remain on the Pyrus, 

 or Cydonia, japonica ; but this is generally all, 

 except a few red berries that the birds mav 

 have left on the holly or the pyracantha. Ja- 

 nuary, however, is an excellent month for the 

 destruction of snails and insects. The snails 

 will be found in their winter quarters, sticking 

 to the trunk of some ivy-clad tree, or hidden 

 beneath the coping of a wall. They are quite 

 in a torpid state, and appear dead ; but might 

 soon be revived, by bringing them into a warm 

 room and sprinklino; them with water. Of 

 course, however, if they are to be destroved, it 

 should be done without rousing them from their 

 stupor. The eggs of insects should also be 

 sought for and destroyed. Those of the lackev 

 moth will be found on twigs, fixed firmly round 



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