2 1 6 GARDENING BY M YSELF. 



dry leaves, if you can get them ; if not, use 

 litter or straw or some such substitute. 

 Spread the leaves smoothly, and keep in 

 place with a layer of light brush. Tender 

 roses may be pegged down and sheltered 

 with an arched roof of sods; or common 

 earth will answer nearly a^ well, unless the 

 soil be stiff and full of clay. I think many 

 dwarf kinds keep better if they are pruned 

 close before covering ; but it is easy to protect 

 the whole bush if you open a slight trench 

 at one side, and fasten the branches down in 

 that. If the bush is too tall to lay down, 

 a cone of straw or cedar brush will protect 

 it well. 



Hardy perennials — pinks, chrysanthe- 

 mums, lilies, and such like, will repay the 

 trouble of covering them too ; but a very 

 slight dressing of litter or leaves is quite 

 enough. 



The garden will look pretty then, in its 

 winter dress, when all this is done; and 

 under their double blanket of leaves and 

 snow, the roses and lilies will bide their 



