them remain until the following fall. During all those months 
they have pulverized to a great extent. "When they are removed 
they are put in a heap where the winter's snow and rain carry 
on the good work, and in the spring they are leaf -mold, ready 
to do their share in potting-shed or garden. I do not use leaves 
for general covering of herbaceous borders, their decay generates 
a heat that in open winters tends to rot the plants. All not 
used in this manner specified are carefully gathered, stored in 
a building and used for bedding for cows and horses, whence 
they find their way to the manure-pit. 
Low Meadow In October I buy a load of coarse, low meadow hay. After a 
Hay hard frost a light covering is put on Strawberries and Spinach 
in the vegetable garden, and on nearly all beds and borders in 
the fiower garden — Box hedges, borders of Pinks, to prevent 
rabbits from eating them; Canterbury Bells and Tulips. Roses 
are bound up with it and things generally protected as much 
from thawing and the action of the sun after snow, as from the 
intense cold. This cover is all taken off in March and saved. 
When the Strawberries are about to ripen, it is put down between 
the rows to keep them clean. After the Strawberries are over 
that same hay is put between the rows of Raspberries and Sweet- 
peas to make walking among them possible and to keep the fruit 
and flowers clean during heavy rain. AVhat is left of the hay 
after those crops are over, is again used as a mulch for Grapes 
and eventually gathered up and put on the compost heap, or if 
still good enough, used as bedding for the cows. 
Brush for Brush for the flower garden is a necessity. Brushing flowers 
Peas and use rather than staking where the growth is at all bushy is much to 
in the be recommended, the brush being less visible and making it 
Flower possible to retain the graceful shape of the plant. The brush 
Garden and light stakes I use for small things are selected from the 
results of the winter's pruning. Small branches and twigs of 
Maple trees being especially good. "We occasionally have a tree 
of that sort to cut down from places where the trees have grown 
too close. 
- Compost The compost-heap is a very important factor in gardening. 
Heap It is commenced in the spring with the rakings of lawns, garden 
paths and beds where there are still many leaves and wisps of 
straw that it is not possible to use for bedding. The constant 
cleaning up and working done all summer add to its value and 
it becomes that thing of joy — a place to put things — all trim- 
mings of vegetables, all past crops of peas, beans, corn, etc. are 
added from time to time with the trimming and edging of the 
grass-borders, while from the flower garden there is a constant 
march to the compost-heap. Our most treasured blooms last only 
a few days when, if it is a perennial, it must be cut back, and 
if an annual must be pulled up altogether. It seems most fitting 
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