VI 
Winter 
171 
imitation of the glittering world outside, if 
every twig was carefully wrapped round with 
white flannel, and steeped in a strong solution 
of boiled alum, until it was covered with crys¬ 
tals. Since those childish days I have seen 
“asparagus fern ” dipped in the same solution 
with charming effect. 
This clear frosty weather is very pleasant, 
but it is more trying to the plants than if they 
first have a warm blanket of snow. When 
leaden clouds collect, down come the snow¬ 
flakes, and we say that old Mother Goose is 
plucking her geese. They look and feel so 
cold, yet they really keep the plants cosy and 
snug and hidden away from the cruel, hand of 
“Jack Frost.” The garden should have been 
made all tidy before the fall comes. All dead 
stalks should be cut off and leaves swept up, 
and then the snow will lie clean and white. 
If the ground assigned to children is quite 
unprepared, some digging could be done during 
the winter months when the weather is open. 
Everything will grow much better if the ground 
is thoroughly well dug before plants are put in. 
Children’s gardens are often under trees, and 
the roots are a great trouble and make the 
ground very hard at first; but all the soil must 
be turned up and well loosened if anything is 
to be made to grow. Among the lists I have 
