102 
THE LADIES 5 MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
occasionally, I have lately made the water of other springs in so far sub¬ 
servient to forwarding the blossoming of spring flowers in the winter 
months ; the method of effecting this is exceedingly simple. 
Suppose a spring well near any walk in the pleasure-ground,dean it 
out, and form round it a circle of about a yard in diameter, on which 
raise a semicircular mound on the north side, in the form of the letter C, 
to about two feet above the surface of the water, whereof a layer of small 
stones should form the foundation, well backed and covered with black 
loam, and on this bed plant crocuses, snow-drops, Christmas roses, &c.; 
then finish above with a slope a little easier than 45 degrees, formed with 
a compost of vegetable mould, sand, &c., and in this embankment insert 
primroses, dog’s-tooth violets, Van Thol tulips, early-flowering Lychi- 
nideas, winter aconites, and other favourite spring flowers. And in a 
patch or two near the top, in a mixture of heath and vegetable mould, 
may be inserted the opposite-leaved saxifrage, Androsace mllosa , or other 
early-flowering Alpine plants, and surmounted by the Erica herbacea; 
then, to give a feature to the spot as well as to add to its interesting- 
appearance, plant on the north side a Salix violacea , to overhang the 
whole, and part of its twigs may be interwoven closely at about six feet 
above, and extending over the whole well to repel radiated heat, the rest 
of the willow should be allowed to take its natural form. I have fixed 
on this species of willow as being an early flowerer and its shoots grace¬ 
fully pendulous. In the centre of the well I would recommend to place 
a pot with a plant of Aponogeton Distachyon , which will flower throughout 
the winter months. If the place is secluded and secure, a few gold-fish 
would render the well still more interesting, and would thrive well there 
in winter; in summer they should be removed to ponds easier affected by 
summer heat. All this to some may appear exceedingly trifling; but it 
is astonishing how much such innocent trifles adds to the pleasures of 
human life. 
Annat Cottage, 
December 2nd, 1840. 
WILD FLOWERS. 
Madam, — I am much pleased to see a new periodical launched into 
the world of letters under your special superintendence. I know no one 
who could bring forth such a thing with a better chance of success. You 
are near to a very copious fountain of horticultural novelties; and you 
have access to more of the richest collections of both books and plants 
than any one else in the kingdom. 
