MONTHLY NOTICES. 108 
readiness. The frost of this month will render newly-dug earth 
more friable, and the snow will enrich it. 
If the weather is very settled and mild, you may still plant 
out hardy deciduous shrubs, such as sweetbriars, double 
bramble, double-blossomed cherry, dwarf almond, jasmines, 
honeysuckles, roses, lilacs, laburnums, guelder rose, Spiraea frutex, 
mezereons, &c. Transplant each shrub with a good ball of earth 
round its roots. 
Prune flowering shrubs now, where they require it, with a 
sharp knife, not with shears. When I say “ flowering shrubs,” 
I do not mean shrubs in flower, but shrubs that do flower. 
Transplant suckers from the hardy flowering shrubs, if they 
have not been done before. Take them up with good roots, and 
support them neatly with stakes. 
Cuttings of young shoots of hardy deciduous shrubs may be 
planted in mild weather, to root, and form good plants in the 
autumn. Layers may be also formed. 
Protect all the choicer kinds of flowering shrubs, and all cut¬ 
tings of every kind, from severe frosts, by spreading litter over 
them. 
Plant tulips now—always providing the weather is mild—to 
blow late in the year; but they will not be so handsome as those 
which were planted again in September and October. 
Plant any ranunculuses, anemones, &c., you may have out of 
the ground, to come in late blowing ; but, like the tulips, they 
will not bear such fine blooms. Protect everything from severe 
weather, as well as you can, this month, particularly your choicer 
sorts of bulbs, and tuberous-rooted perennials. 
FEBRUARY. 
February is the first spring month, and the parterre will begin 
to make gradual approaches to gaiety and life. The anemones* 
