612 THE PLEASURE, OR FLOWER GARDEN. [DEC. 



PLANTING BULBOUS ROOTS. 



In the early part of this month, should the weather continue open, 

 or that it is practicable to work the ground, you may plant hya- 

 cinths, jonquils, tulips, double narcissus, star of Bethlehem, cro- 

 cuses, snowdrops, or any other hardy kinds of bulbs that yet remain 

 out of ground ; but it is wrong, if it can be avoided, to defer the 

 planting of them to this time. However, it will be better at all 

 events, to plant the above kinds now, should it be practicable, than 

 to keep them up till spring : but it will be very proper, and indeed 

 I may say necessary ; to cover the newly-planted beds immediately 

 with straw or other light covering ; for such roots as have not pro- 

 duced fibres before the setting in of frost, are much more vulnerable 

 to it than those that have. 



Polyanthus-narcissus, anemones, or ranunculuses, should not be 

 planted in the middle or eastern States at this season, unless they 

 are effectually protected afterwards from rain, snow, and frost j I 

 would rather advise to preserve them carefully in dry sand till the 

 early part of March, or even the middle of that month. 



PROTECT SEEDLING BULBS, ETC. 



The various kinds of seedling bulbs should now be carefully pro- 

 tected as directed on page 591, otherwise many of them will be in- 

 jured. The boxes in which were sowed, in the preceding months, 

 the seeds of bulbous-rooted flowers, should be treated in like manner. 



PROTECTING STOCKS, WALLFLOWERS, ETC. 



Your double stock-gillyflowers, wallflowers, and other plants of 

 similar constitutions, which are in frames, must have protection from 

 rain, snow, and severe frost ; and it will be necessary, during winter, 

 to give them the full benefit of the air for a few hours in the middle 

 of mild days, but by no means to expose them or any other tender 

 plants to a hot sun whilst in a frozen state. 



NEW-PLANTED SHRUBS AND TREES. 



The more tender or choice kinds of shrubs and trees which were 

 planted last spring, or in the preceding month, should now have 

 their roots well protected from frost by laying some wispy dung, or 

 long litter all around the plants. Some kinds may even require to 

 have their tops matted around, or each to be completely enveloped 

 in a coat of long straw, reaching from the ground to the top of the 

 plant, and terminating there in a point, the whole assuming the form 

 of a sugarloaf. The straw is to be supported by placing slender sticks 

 in the earth around the shrub, the tops of which are to be tied to- 

 gether over it; a few willow twigs should be worked in between 

 these sticks to prevent the straw from falling in, or lying close to 

 the plants, which, when laid on, is to be bound around by hay bands, 

 willows, or the like. 



