124 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



transient foreshadow of spring, and get it done now. Spite 

 of the doom of those who " will not plough by reason of the 

 cold," it must be admitted that there is little amateur 

 work in the garden in winter; and even the pleasure of 

 seeing alterations made and improvements planned in 

 summer now carried out, is much interfered with by the 

 damp walks, the chilly air, and the discomfort of standing 

 still while overlooking the work of another. Still, I must 

 class this watching the progress of work doing as one of 

 the winter pleasures of the garden, even if it is reduced 

 to a short visit every morning, just to see what has been 

 done. 



The value of a small greenhouse, or even of a window 

 filled with plants, is decidedly more felt in winter than at 

 any other season, not merely from the shelter given to the 

 plants, but because we are sure of finding something to do 

 among them daily. No doubt patience and hope are the 

 chief characteristics of winter-gardening, indoors or out ; 

 but to those who really like to worh among their flowers, 

 there may be many opportunities of this pleasure. One 

 plant even of Tvopceolum tricolor, if started in autumn, 

 will afi'ord daily amusement in training its quick-growing, 

 flexible stems over its trellis ; it submits to be turned 

 about in any way, and as it is apt to make a rapid spring 

 and get too soon to the top of its support, it requires to 

 be kept low at first, and its stems may even be turned 

 down from the top, when they will begin again quite 

 cheerfully to climb u}) from the lowest place. In order 

 thus to have some slight garden work in winter, a little 



