272 THE SMALL COUNTRY PLACE 



weather. Give the pigs a dry place and an abundance 

 of bedding. 



Roads and Walks. Little can be done upon roads 

 and walks at the North, but repairs and the making of 

 new ones may .be done further south. 



The Lawn. If uncovered, the lawn should be dressed 

 with a little fine stable manure, to protect the grass 

 roots. Coarse, green manure is unsightly and offensive 

 and has no advantage over that which is fine and par- 

 tially decomposed. 



Trees and Shrubs. Ornamental trees and shrubs 

 may be pruned during the winter if one has the leisure, 

 except sugar maples, butternuts, and birches, which 

 will flow sap from the wounds as the weather of spring 

 comes on. These should not be pruned until the buds 

 are well swollen in the spring. Order for any ornamen- 

 tals that are to be planted in the spring should be sent 

 in now, that a good selection may be obtained. The 

 first orders in are often filled with the best specimens. 



The Flower Garden. The making of plans and send- 

 ing in orders for seeds and plants is about all that can 

 be done at this time of the year. Materials for stakes, 

 labels, etc., may be made ready for spring use. 



Greenhouses and Sash. If one has a greenhouse 

 now is the time when it should have the most careful 

 attention. Be sure that all parts of the furnace are in 

 good order, as a break or leak at this time may mean 

 the loss of all in the house. Replace broken or cracked 

 glass at once. Hot-bed sash should be looked over and 

 all broken glass replaced and the sash bars be drawn 

 with rather thick paint. This is often as effective in 

 keeping out the water and holding the glass in place as 

 using putty on the outside. 



The Orchard. If pruning of fruit trees is started 

 this month and continued on warm days it may all 



