150 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



afford a considerable protection from the frost. Mats 

 or the like covering may be serviceable in severe 

 weather. But to make sure of plants in the spring, 

 it is well worth while to have a small frame, say four 

 feet square, with a sliding glass top, and which may 

 serve also for other things. Set this frame upon 

 earth, a little raised for the sake of dryness, and 

 dibble into it a hundred plants, about the end of 

 October. Keep the roof a little open, except in 

 very hard weather. This slight attention is no task, 

 as there is much pleasure in seeing the fresh green 

 leaves when all else is buried under snow. In a 

 severe storm, the frame, besides being close shut, 

 may require a mat or other covering; but in few 

 winters, at a medium elevation, is such care neces- 

 sary, it being found that though the soil be hard 

 frozen about the plants they never die when so 

 situated ; and indeed it is rather quick thawing, and 

 frequent changes, than hard frost, that prove destruc- 

 tive to most vegetables. 



About the end of March, when the weather is 

 soft, take up a few of the plants with a trowel, so as 

 to lift with each a little ball of earth, and set them 

 on the warmest border ground, into which plenty of 

 rich and well decayed manure has been dug before 

 winter. A fortnight later, plant some more in the 

 same way. So transplanted, these take root imme- 

 diately, and bear the small spring frosts without in- 

 jury. These advantages you have by raising your 

 own plants : they are at hand, and you can choose 

 your time to a nicety; they are short-necked and 

 hardy, being not too crowded in the frame, and are 

 lifted with earth adhering to their roots ; whereas 



