A GARDEN KALENDAR 367 



flower-bank a large dressing of rotten dung. Dug-up the 

 bank at the end of the barn, to prepare it for planting. 



1 6. Hard black frosts for many mornings. Today 

 frequent flights of snow. The Cucum rs - have a joint, & 

 two rough leaves. The bearing-bed begins to heat well. 



17. A very severe frost with a scattering of snow. 



There has never yet been snow enough at one time to 

 cover the Ground. 



18. A very severe frost. Laid the Hills of earth on the 

 Cucum r - bed. The bed seems in fine temper. 



It froze hard all day in the shade. Stopped down the 

 Cucum r - plants. 



19. A very severe frost ; & the ground as hard as Iron ; 

 strong sunshine, & a freezing air all day. 



Turned-out the Cucum rs - into their Hills : they were well 

 rooted in their pots. 



20. A most severe frost, which came in a doors, & froze 

 under my bed. Strong clear sunshine. 



The ice that was broken Yesterday, could not be broke 

 to day without great violence. It is difficult to cover the 

 Hot-beds enough. 



Cut-down two beechen-stocks at Lawn-acre for boards, 

 & planks. They yielded 593 feet of sawn stuff ; out of 

 which there were three planks for a manger; the rest 

 were all boards. The stock out of which the planks were 

 cut proved faulty : so that they were not so good as could 

 be wished. 



Plunged the planks Yesterday in James Knight's pond. 1 



Hung an Ham of my own making in a paper-bag in the 

 Chimney. 



Destroyed 24 bullfinches, which lay very hard on the 

 Cherry-trees, & plum-trees, & had done a great deal of 

 Mischief. 



21. Hard frost & bright sunshine ; but nothing near so 

 severe as it was. The wind from full E : is turned full W : 



Feb. 22. Sowed about a doz : Succade seeds. 



A thaw with a very sharp wind at S : E : the ground is 



1 See note to p. 261. 



