130 THE CHRONICLES OF A GAEDEN. 



done, might be inserted a reference to the vokime and page 

 M'here the culture of the plant was detailed, which could then 

 be studied anew, if requisite ; the progressive work to be in- 

 serted under the month in which it was to be done. Thus, 

 for instance, under June should be inserted the sowing of an- 

 nuals for winter-flowering ; in September, we would observe 

 that these should be looked after, thinned out, and placed 

 in a sunny situation ; and in November, we would be re- 

 minded to bring theni indoors, or into the greenhouse. 



Unless an amateur gardener makes some such personal 

 calendar of work, the things to be done are generally for- 

 gotten at the right time ; and even where there is occa- 

 sional help from a gardener, such a calendar is useful, as 

 the general rules by which a jobbing gardener is guided 

 cannot apply to every garden, at least, if the proprietors 

 have any love for the garden and its work. I remember 

 the amusing dismay of an old man upon being informed 

 that he need not sow spinach between the rows of peas, 

 as not one of the family ate spinach, and so no seed had 

 been got from the seedsman : " it was always sown," he 

 pled; " he had never seen peas sown without it; everybody 

 had spinage in their garden ;" and when he found us inexor- 

 able, he went grumbling away, evidently believing that the 

 crop of peas that year would be a failure, because he had 

 no spinach between the rows ! If you merely wish to be 

 reminded of the ronthie culture, and require also to see 

 that it is d(jne, the calendar in the almanac may do ; but 

 for private use, make a calendar of 3-our own, and don't 

 foiijet to read it now and then. 



