DEC.] THE GREEN-HOUSE. 613 



Hydrangea hortensis, China and Otaheite roses, prunus lauro- 

 cerasus, and small plants of magnolia grandiflora, lagerstroemia 

 indica, double pomegranate, and many other valuable shrubs may be 

 preserved in good condition by this means, and ultimately inured to 

 the winter frosts without much injury ; observe that the covering is 

 not to be disturbed before the middle of March in the middle States, 

 or the beginning of April in the eastern States; and even then it is 

 to be taken off by piecemeal and not all at once, for too sudden an 

 exposure might do them considerable injury should a hard frost or 

 cutting winds ensue. 



OTHER USEFUL WORK. 



Should the weather prove open in the early part of the month, 

 you may continue to prune hardy shrubs and trees; spread your 

 compost heaps if not done last month, and prepare more if necessary; 

 rake off the fallen leaves of trees, and dig among your clumps and 

 shrubbery plantations. 



In hard frosty weather, when little else can be done in the garden 

 than the covering and uncovering of tender plants, &c., prepare label 

 sticks to mark or number the various flowers and seeds when they 

 are planted or sown, and prepare all the tools and every other neces- 

 sary convenience for your spring operations. 



THE GREEN-HOUSE. 



It generally happens that the weather is extremely rigorous in 

 this month ; therefore, more than ordinary attention must be paid to 

 the green-house plants. In cold or frosty weather keep the windows 

 and doors closely shut, and close your window-shutters carefully 

 every night, and also in extremely rigorous frosts, except while the 

 sun shines on the windows. 



When green-houses are so constructed as to have no window-shut- 

 ters, which is certainly wrong, large thick mats should be hung and 

 nailed, or made fast by small hooks, in front of the lights, every 

 cold night, and also in the daytime when the weather is very severe, 

 and no sun. It may sometimes be necessary, even when there are 

 shutters, to hang and nail up mats in front of the windows, to check 

 the piercing wind. If there are short roof-lights, they must be 

 covered with mats, or strong canvas, during the continuance of severe 

 weather ; these may be so contrived as to roll up, and fall down, by 

 means of lines and pulleys, at pleasure. 



During the continuance of severe frost, accompanied by piercing 

 cutting winds, the windows must never be opened that is, you must 

 neither slide the lights up nor down, but always keep them and the 

 door or doors closed ; and any plants that are too near the glass 

 must be removed into the interior of the house, especially at night 

 and in cloudy dark weather. 



