JANUARY. 



The operations of this month differ but little from 

 those of the last, it being considered one of the dor- 

 mant months ; much may be done, however, as to 

 moving shrubs and herbaceous plants,* which in 

 the exterior borders may be made to constitute a 

 great ornament as well as shelter to the flower gar- 

 den. This is a proper time also for edging the beds, 

 and even for forming a flower garden where none 

 existed before. Numerous fantastic shapes have 

 been suggested for this purpose in many books, old 

 and new. I would suggest an extremely neat and 

 simple plan of one which I have recently seen near 

 Dublin, at St. Helena, the rural residence of Dr. 

 Harty. 



It needs but little description. The great oval 

 (which is to be first formed) has a fall of twenty 

 inches from the centre to the circumference. The 

 figures 1, 2, 3, &c., refer to corresponding plats. 

 The dark shading in the narrow boundary walks is 







* It has been complained of by many, and with great justice, that 

 those who write or speak of matters with which they are themselves 

 acquainted, are top apt to consider others equally so, and to leave 

 various terms, which they have occasion to use, altogether unex- 

 plained. I wish to avoid this as much as possible, being often 

 puzzled myself upon such occasions. As to shrubs and herbaceous 

 plants, though pretty generally understood, I would hint that the 

 former are divided into evergreens which retain, and deciduous 

 which lose, their leaves; also into those of higher and lower growth; 

 among the first are the Lilac, Laburnum, Acacia, Laurel, Portugal 

 Laurel, and Arbutus : in general, however, the shrub is of low and 

 spreading growth : the herbaceous plants are those which preserve 

 their roots, but lose their stems in winter, as the Fuchsia, Campa- 

 nula, &c. &c. 



