FEB.] FLOWER GARDEN. 157 



Dress and dig the Borders, Beds^ &c. 



When the weather permits, let the flower beds and borders, in 

 general, be thoroughly cleared from weeds, and from every kind 

 of litter ; for neatness in those parts of the garden is agreeable at 

 all times, but more particularly at this season. 



Therefore, let the surface of the beds and borders be lightly and 

 carefully loosened with a hoe, in a dry day, and let them be neatly 

 raked ; which will give an air of liveliness to the surface, and the 

 whole will appear neat and very pleasing to the eye, and well worth 

 the labour. 



Likewise if any borders, beds, &c. were not dug last autumn or 

 winter, it should now be clone, ready for the reception of flower 

 plants, seeds, &c. and that the whole may appear fresh and neat. 



Prune Flowering- Shrubs. 



Finish pruning the hardy deciduous flowering shrubs, where 

 wanted. In doing this work, observe to cut out all dead wood ; and 

 where any of the branches are too long, or grow straggling, let 

 them be shortened, or cut off close, as you shall see necessary ; and 

 likewise, where the branches of different shrubs interfere, or run 

 into each other, shorten them, so that each may stand singly, and 

 clear of another; then all the different shrubs will show themselves 

 distinctly and to the best advantage. 



When the shrubs are pruned, let the cuttings be cleared away, 

 and the ground be neatly dug between, and about all the plants, 

 observing to take off all suckers arising from the roots. Nothing 

 looks better in a shrubbery than to see the ground neat and fresh 

 between the flowering shrubs and ever-grf.ens, &c. especially in 

 such clumps and other compartments where the shrubs stand 

 distant. 



But as sometimes particular parts of a shrubbery are on some 

 occasions required to form a close thicket, in that case very little 

 pruning, or digging, &c. is wanted. 



Care of Grass Walks and Lawns. 



Grass walks and lawns should be kept extremely clean ; in dry 

 weather, as soon as the greater winter frost is over, roll them with 

 a heavy roller, to settel the earth which the frost had hoved up. 



Gravel Walks. 



Keep the gravel walks perfectly clean and free from moss, weeds, 

 or litter of any kind; let them be well rolled, to settle them after 

 the winter frost, which will give them a fresh and neat appearance, 

 and render them comfortable for walking on. 



