156 FLOWERS AND THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



Prepare and lay up composts. Attend to gravel walks 

 and lawns. Look over and arrange the seeds. Plant 

 and transplant. Protect when necessary. Clean garden- 

 pots, set them in order, and carefully perform the potting 

 required. Keep plants in pots clean in the foliage. 

 Make hot-beds in good time. Avoid unnecessary 

 coddling. 



CHAPTER XX. 



GARDEN OPERATIONS IN FEBRUARY. 



As this month and the following should see the con- 

 clusion of necessary spring attention to the grass of the 

 lawns, that subject had better be considered now. Some 

 persons like the soft elasticity of a moss-grown lawn, 

 and this vegetation has the advantage of growing under 

 trees, where grass will not. Some persons, on the con- 

 trary, think it quite out of place there, and now is the 

 time to eradicate it. Draw up the moss with a rake, 

 and clear it away : about two rakings will probably be 

 necessary. At the time of doing this, all bare places on 

 the lawns, under trees, and in shaded corners, should 

 have the surface scratched, and a little good manure 

 spread, or manure water given, according to circum- 

 stances. In March, the places where the moss and the 

 bare spots have been, may be sown with grass seed, and 

 have a top dressing of fresh soil, mixed with lime or 

 bone dust, and some well rotted manure. Pretty fre- 

 quent rolling throughout the year, cutting out daisies, 

 and dandelion and other weeds as they make their ap- 

 pearance, frequent mowing after the grass takes to grow- 

 ing, and clipping the edges from time to time, will 

 complete this branch of garden work for the year. 



There are a few more jobs to occupy days when no 

 out-of-door work can be done throughout the spring 



