590 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [Dec. 



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 together over it; a few willow twigs should be worked in 

 between these sticks to prevent the straw from falling in, which, 

 when laid on, is to be bound around by hay bands, willows, or the 

 like. 



Hydrangea hortensis, China and Otaheite roses, prunus lauro- 

 cerassus, and small plants of magnolia grandiflora, lagerstrcemia 

 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 piece-meal 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 neces- 

 sary; 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 gar- 

 den 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 

 necessary 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- 

 shutters, 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 day time 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, 



