FEBRUARY. 
63 
the month. Sow Longpod Beans, and plant a warm border with 
Ash-leaf Potatoes about the middle of the month. Some may be also 
planted in the open quarter. Sow Early Plorn Carrot, Round Spinach, 
Turnips, Parsley, Radishes, Brown Cos and Cabbage Lettuce, and a 
little Onion on a warm border; get the ground well prepared in dry 
weather to receive the principal crops of Carrots, Onions and Parsnips, 
some of the latter may be sown the end of this month. Make new 
plantations of Mint, Chives, Tarragon, and all kinds of herbs; plant 
Garlic and Shallots, and prick out autumn sown Onions in aich soil; 
probably these may be injured by the severe frost, if so, some seed of 
the Tripoli should be sown at once on a slight hotbed to get them for¬ 
warded for planting in the open ground. In all probability, nearly all 
the Brassica tribe will be killed by the severity of this winter. 
WHAT SMALL GARDENERS SHOULD DO IN FEBRUARY. 
According to present appearances, we should say this would be 
whatever Master Jack Frost will allow; while fairs and fetes are being 
held on the Serpentine, and women set fire to by way of amusement 
with fireworks ; while hunters are reposing ignominiously in their 
stalls, and hounds baying the moon in their kennels, and the thermo¬ 
meter below zero, without apparently a prospect of a change, it seems 
rather a farce to give directions for out-of-door work ; and yet it must 
be done, and we must live in hope that ere February opens we may 
have an opportunity of getting through what there is to be done ; but 
at present to dig up Celery and Leeks with a pickaxe is the most lively 
operation in our calendar; as to flowers, they are indeed blushing 
unseen ; Auriculas, Pansies, and Carnations covered up with mats and 
frigi domo, and to keep the thief out of the house is the great problem 
for solution. If it breaks up there will be plenty to do. Auriculas 
must be top-dressed, as advised last month, and the frames turned 
round to the south; at present compost, as well as everything else, is 
frozen hard, and this severe weather will teach the necessity of always 
having some under cover for all emergencies. We shall see what effect 
this severe frost will have on the blooms, as well as on the constitution 
of the plants. Pansies .—Those in pots should now be potted. Be 
careful not to overpot, and use about one-third loam, one-third leaf- 
mould, one-third well rotted manure, with the addition of some silver 
sand. Do not leave more than two stems, indeed some of the prettiest 
plants are those with a single stem. Pinks .—Be careful to fasten 
these in the ground, as they are apt to be loosened by the frost; it is 
probable there will be losses, too, which will have to be repaired. Car¬ 
nations and Picotees will only require to be looked over, decaying leaves 
removed, and water given sparingly, if the weather is open. Ranun¬ 
culus .—The ground ought to be in good condition, as frost has so 
thoroughly got into it. Let the bed be carefully dug over, all worms 
picked out, and then carefully raked. About the 12th of the month is 
a good time for planting; make drills one inch and a half in depth and 
five inches apart; fill the bottom of the drills with silver sand; any 
fine sand will do as well. Plant the tubers firmly in the drills about 
four or five inches apart, then cover in the drills, and rake all over 
