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put them into small open baskets, with a fresh 

 compost round them. My uncle had places 

 made in the bottom of the pond, which is about 

 two feet deep, and the baskets were plunged into 

 them, and the soil at the bottom drawn close 

 round . 



The gardener thinks the salt dross has been 

 effectual in destroying the wire-worm in my car- 

 nation beds ; so last week he added a small 

 quantity of sharp sand, and then the beds were 

 dug, and raked nicely for planting. Yesterday 

 and this morning I have been busy planting out 

 my layers, and as I stirred the ground with my 

 scoop trowel, I could perceive no traces of my 

 old enemies. 



A few weeks ago I raked off half the layer of 

 peat earth, with which I had covered my ixia, 

 gladiolus, and oxalis beds, to preserve them from 

 the frosts ; I have now raked off the other half, 

 and the beds being carefully forked up, I hope 

 in May to have some nice flowers there. 



This is a most busy time in the garden, fork- 

 ing and dressing the borders, mending the edge- 

 ings, earthing up peas and beans continually 

 watching and defending the blossoms of the 

 wall fruit, pruning trees, preparing hot-beds, and 

 sowing cauliflower, lettuce, onion, broccoli, ra- 

 dishes, &c. &c., and in our garden, planting out 

 flowers and removing offsets ; dressing and pro- 

 tecting the beds of spring flowers that are going 



