590 THE GREEN-HOUSE. [Dec. 
in a coat of long straw, reachin^rom 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 bj 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, lagerstroeraia 
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 ri,gorous 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, 
