FLOW!'!; GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
seed bed to some other place. Sowing, is the 
depositing of seeds in the ground, by sprinkling 
ii over the surface, and raking and stirringlhe 
ground to burv it. or drawing drills, and 
sprinkling them therein, and covering them 
with the soil from the sides of the drills. 
Weeding, is the removing of weeds either by 
chopping them up with the hoe, or drawing 
them out by the hand, or any oilier means. 
Clipping, is the cutting of trees, hedges, and 
edgings with shears made for that purpose. 
Pruning, is the removal of branches, or por- 
tions of branches, from trees, shrubs, and 
plants, by means of the knife or the saw. 
These are operations constantly mentioned in 
gardening, and require to be understood by 
the amateur before he can successfully pro- 
ceed : but it is very desirable to employ a 
gardener a little at first, to see how these things 
are managed; for one practical lesson is worth 
a good deal of reading, though we shall en- 
deavour to be as plain as possible. Presuming 
that, independently of occasional frost, there 
will be open days enough for business, Ave 
proceed to direct, according to our own ex- 
perience, the business to be done in an 
amateur's gai'den. 
FLOWER GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY. 
Tulips. — The most important duty is to 
keep frost from the beds ; however slight the 
frost may, be that reaches the bulb, or the 
green spike, that frost damages the bloom, 
and creates notches, indentations, splits, and 
discolouration on the petals. The usual mode 
of keeping them protected is by means of 
hoops or bent irons, with a net over them to 
keep off vermin, and water-proof cloth or 
mats to cover from the frost. This, however, 
in mild weather, should never be put on till 
the last thing at night, and should be off again 
by daylight, because they require all the light 
that can be safely given without danger of 
frost, and all the air likewise. The trans- 
parent water -proofed cloth would be better 
than any material that darkens them, and an 
hour's confinement extra every day would be 
of infinitely less consequence, if of any conse- 
quence at all. As, however, the spikes of 
green will be now appearing, it may be con- 
sidered the most particular of all the months 
in the year as regards damage by frost. 
Auriculas. — These, being in their winter 
habitations, must have all the air that can be 
given and but little water; so that they do not 
actually flag for want of moisture, the less they 
have the better. The frame or pit in which 
they are placed should be dry at the bottom, 
and impervious to wet, and so constructed 
that the water which is unavoidably given 
shall, when it runs through the pot, run off 
altogether. All dead leaves should be picked 
oil' and thrown out of the frame or pit ; for 
nothing is more, dangerous than damp, and 
l h;il which arises from decaying leaves is worse 
than any other. Cleanliness in plants is as 
necessary as in animals; and nothing is more 
important than constantly sweeping out the 
refuse and dirt and vermin that accumulate 
in pits and frames. 
Carnations and Piccotees require much 
the same treatment. They are equally tender, 
and easily injured by damp : frost does them 
no good, though they will stand a good deal of 
it. They should have as much air as possible, 
except when there is dampness in the atmo- 
sphere ; on these occasions the lights should be 
only tilted, but if the air is dry, they should be 
taken altogether off. 
Pansies in pots require the frame protec- 
tion, or to be plunged, for the frost would 
penetrate the sides of the pot, and damage the 
ends of the fibres ; this w r ould check the plants 
very materially, and weaken their bloom. 
Verbenas, Petunias, Fuchsias, and all 
other plants in pots, must be kept clean and 
not too moist. They should have air on all 
occasions when the weather is mild. The 
frames or houses in which they are kept 
should be well dried and swept, all falling 
leaves be taken away, and the vermin be con- 
stantly disturbed. 
Stocks, Mignionette, cuttings of plants, 
in store pots, autumn-sown annuals, and all 
plants intended for bedding out in spring, 
must be well attended to, and the drainage of 
the pots frequently examined, for if that be 
stopped with soil in the holes, or by any other 
means, the plants will be sacrificed. 
Double Anemones and Ranunculuses 
planted in autumn must be protected with 
litter of some kind, long straw or peas haulm, 
when the weather is frosty; and it frequently 
happens that this comes in the night without 
any previous indication, so that it is better to 
be prepared for it. Single Anemones, which 
remain undisturbed in the ground, will fre- 
quently bloom, at least partially, all through a 
mild winter. It is of great service to strew 
the beds with leaves, especially oak leaves, 
which do not look unsightly, and protect the 
plants while the bloom pushes through them, 
and looks well in the worst part of the season. 
The beds for the spring-planted Ranunculuses 
and Anemones which are intended to be in 
good order in June, should have all the 
mould or compost thrown out on each side in 
ridges, to be chopped about and turned over 
often during the present and part of next 
month; these ought to be one foot deep and 
well drained; indeed, it is all the better if the 
second foot, or bottom, were mixed with brick 
rubbish. If new beds are to be made in con- 
sequence of the present stuff being bad, the 
