212 THE MANSE GARDEN. 



own accord ; and they may be bought at sixpence a 

 hundred. It is not agreeable in beds or patches, 

 but fine when set as a fringe to the flower borders, 

 and perfectly beautiful as studding to a piece of 

 smooth green sward. For this purpose have a long 

 stick with a dibble point, and to regulate the depth 

 insert a cross bit of wood, to set the foot on, three 

 inches from the extremity. Let one person peram- 

 bulate the ground, making holes, and another follow 

 with two baskets, one containing a thousand bulbs, 

 and the other sifted earth or sand to cover them. 

 Hepatica or liverwort is the next in value as a flower 

 of spring. The double blue is rather delicate ; the 

 other sorts single blue, red and white single or 

 double are hardy. The root is a solid turf, and the 

 only art of propagating is to divide by cutting straight 

 down. Plant at intervals along the flower border, 

 taking care to alternate the colours. The Christmas 

 rose, flowering so early, as the name imports, has still 

 something to add to this more genial season. The 

 snowdrop is fine upon grass, along with the crocus ; 

 on the borders, if abundant, it must be in small spots 

 well distant. Different species of Narcissus are 

 valuable before summer comes with her full hand : 

 namely, the daffodil, which needs no care ; the jon- 

 quil, of sweetest perfume, but more delicate, re- 

 quiring shelter and a free soil, rather rich, but not 

 with recent manure. Add for spring beauty, prim- 

 roses, single, double, and of various hues; a large 

 assortment of the auricula and polyanthus, not the 

 highly cultivated of either, which will be noticed in 

 their place, but such as are hardy and show plenty 

 of colour ; some patches of anemone, raised from 



