[February. MONTHLY CALENDAR. * 



higher than what is necessary for the preservation of plants ; 

 consequently, as the heat decreases in the night season, 

 plants often get injured, unless a fire is kept up. Air must 

 be admitted to plants kept in this way, at all opportunities; 

 and more water will be necessary for such plants, than 

 those kept in a greenhouse would require. For the manage, 

 ment of bulbous roots, in pots or glasses, the reader is 

 referred to page 212. 



"A cold sour Autumn, they sternly maintain, 

 A long severe Winter will bring in its train ; 

 If Summer and Autumn be both dry and warm, 

 Calm opens the Winter, it closes in storm." 



VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. 



Although stern Winter, with its ice-bound chains, exerts 

 its influence over the soil, the gardener may find employment 

 preparatory to commencing his operations of ploughing and 

 planting, as the year progresses. Perhaps the most impor- 

 tant business at this season, is to collect plenty of manure ; 

 next to this, the gardener, who intends to raise early plants 

 for forcing or otherwise, should see that his hot-bed frames 

 are in good repair and ready for use ; he should also repair 

 his sashes, and make straw mats to cover them with. In 

 preparing dung or other heating materials for hot-beds, or 

 forcing pits, let it be kept secure from heavy falls of snow or 

 rain, and frequently turned over preparatory to its being 

 made into a bed. 



Previous to making hot-beds, select a situation that is 

 well protected by a close fence or wall, and not in any way 

 connected with any building calculated to harbour rats, 

 mice, moles, &c., which are very apt to take up their abode 

 in warm dung, to the great injury and sometimes the 

 destruction of the beds. It is necessary that the founda- 

 tion for the beds be drily situated, and not liable to be inun- 

 dated with water from melted snow, &c. When all is pre- 

 pared as directed, page 101 to 106, begin to sow Cabbage* 



