FEBRUARY. 



593 



FEBRUARY. 



kind. Cow-dung is, above all manures, 

 preferable for roses. Those who keep 

 fowls and pigeons will find the droppings 

 of the birds, stored in a proper receptacle 

 and soaked with urine, a useful dressing. 

 Manures should not be applied in a per- 

 fectly fresh state to roses; but if it is 

 necessary to use them in this condition 

 they should be mixed with equal quantities 

 of good loam or charred earth to lower 

 their strength. 



Roses, Hardy. Tender sorts of Bourbon, 

 China, Noisette, and Tea-scented roses are 

 better if planting is deferred to the end of 

 March or the beginning of April ; but all 

 the hardy varieties may be planted this 

 month. The planting, however, should be 

 finished as soon as possible. 



Roses, Pruning. It is not a good practice 

 to prune roses when planted. The tops of 

 newly-planted roses should be left on for a 

 month or six weeks after the operation ; 

 they should then be cut back and headed 

 in to three or four buds from the stock. 

 This will insure a healthy, vigorous growth. 

 After the plants are established, the shoots 

 may vary in length from 4 inches to 16 

 inches. The weaker the growth, the closer 

 roses should be pruned, and vice versd. Es- 

 tablished plants of hybrid perpetuals and 

 ..summer roses should be pruned at once ; 

 the more tender varieties will be safer if 

 left unpruned for another month or six 

 weeks. Roses in borders should be staked 

 anew and fresh labelled, if necessary. 

 Hardy climbing varieties may be trained 

 and trimmed. Banksian roses should have 

 had the old wood cut in when they went 

 out pf flower. The growth of last summer 

 will bear blooms this season, and must be 

 left untouched. Thin out the weakly shoots 

 of Austrian, Copper, Persian Yellow, and 

 other briers of the same class, shortening 

 the stronger ones but very slightly. Treat 

 some of the stronger Teas and Noisettes, 

 &s Marechal Niel, Celine Forestier, Solfa- 



terre, and Cloth of Gold, in the same 

 way. 



Routine work. Any contemplated alter- 

 ations in the form and arrangement of the 

 garden which have not been carried out 

 must of necessity be completed in February, 

 and as early in the month as possible. 

 Vacant spaces and flower beds intended 

 for the reception of bedding plants at a 

 period must be dug over, and all composts 

 and manures should be carried to and 

 placed on the ground over which they are 

 to be spread. Wherever turf is to be laid, 

 it should be done before the month comes 

 to an end. New edgings of any kind may 

 yet be laid or set, to divide borders from 

 walks, and the borders may be pointed and 

 receive a coat of top dressing, if this has 

 not been given at an earlier period, and the 

 walks, if of gravel, can have the top surface 

 turned, and then be raked and rolled. 



Tulips, Hyacinths, &c. Guard choice 

 tulips, hyacinths, &c., against the attacks 

 of mice and snails. An endless variety of 

 traps have been invented for the former : 

 no trap is more efficient for the latter than 

 leaves of the cabbage tribe, laid flat on the 

 ground, and carefully examined every 

 night ; if left till morning, possibly the 

 leaves will be eaten, and the snail hid 

 beyond our reach. In order to protect 

 tulips from the ill effects of severe frosts 

 and heavy rains, hoops should be placed 

 over the beds, and mats laid on the hoops. 

 The mats should be removed at the ap- 

 proach of finer and less inclement weather. 

 Turf and Gravel Walks. Sweep and 

 roll turf and gravel ; finish laying turf; top 

 dress, turn, renew, and relay the edgings 

 of walks ; and let cleanliness and neatness 

 compensate as far as possible for the 

 absence of floral beauty. 



February. Fruit Garden and 

 Orchard. 



Apples and Pears. Finish pruning all 



