BUDS, BLOOM, AND EARLY BIRD 



(Philadelphus) are also graceful. As for the Flowering Feb. 

 Currant (Ribes), it no sooner begins to grow than it 1-14 

 blooms. There are two beautiful and little-grown flower- 

 ing shrubs which the reader may be advised to take note 

 of as under improvement by nurserymen, and they are 

 the Ceanothus and the Buddleia. Most shrubs flower in 

 spring, but these are summer bloomers, and in good soil 

 will be at their best in August probably. I ought to say 

 of the Buddleia that it is the species Variabilis, and not 

 Globosa, which I have in mind. The latter bears little 

 orange balls, and is both quaint and pretty, but it 

 cannot vie in beauty with the former, which bears its 

 inflorescence in large cones. 



The Ranunculus. — The old-time Scottish kailyard 

 knew the Ranunculus better than Sassenach gardens 

 know it now. I think its day is past, but February is 

 the time for those to plant it who consider that its bright 

 colours and neat form render it worthy of a place in the 

 garden. 



Fruit 



What was said of January, as regards planting, applies 

 also to February ; but I would rather plant in February 

 than January if, from one cause or other, fruit trees had 

 to be put in before March. The ground generally 

 crumbles better. Note, however, that the condition of 

 the soil is the real guide. If the ground is dry enough 

 to crumble readily, January planting is satisfactory. Re- 

 garding fruit tree planting as essentially dry weather 

 work, I would say : Get your trees as soon as you can, 

 and lay them in some sheltered place with loose earth 

 over their roots to keep them safe from frost, but do not 

 put them in their final positions until the soil is sufficiently 

 dry to fall readily off the tools when turned up. There 

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