chap, xii.] CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS. 379 
This is in fact the first month that displays 
the cheerfulness and brilliancy of spring, for 
the flower-garden is gay with crocuses, and 
the bees are buzzing about them, while the 
birds are singing on every tree. The wea¬ 
ther is often very fine and warm in March; 
but there are frequently frosty nights, during 
which the tree-peonies and other half-hardy 
early-flowering shrubs should be protected 
by a kind of beehive-like covering, made 
sufficiently large to put on and take off with¬ 
out injuring the plants. In the country, 
these coverings may be made of platted 
rushes sewed together, and the gathering 
and platting them will afford employment to 
poor old women and children in winter. 
Biennials, such as hollyhocks, B romp ton 
stocks, &c., are generally transplanted in this 
month. 
In the kitchen-garden the principal crops 
of all the culinary vegetables are sown, and 
potatoe sets are planted. The spring prun¬ 
ing and planting are also finished. Forest- 
trees are planted in the parks and pleasure- 
grounds, and trees are cut down. In short, 
in large places March and April probably 
