Instructions in gardening for ladies

by Mrs. Loudon

January.

January may be called the digging month, as almost the only gardening operation that can be performed in it is digging, or rather trenching the ground; and even this cannot be done unless the weather be open and the ground free from frost. Nothing can be imagined more desolate than the appearance of the flower-garden in this month. Perhaps the Christmas rose may be in flower, and a few lingering blossoms may remain on the Pyrus or Cydonia japonica; but this is generally all, except a few red berries that the birds may have left on the holly or the pyracantha. January, however, is an excellent month for the destruction of snails and insects. The snails will be found in their winter quarters, sticking to the trunk of some ivy-clad tree, or hidden beneath the coping of some wall. They are quite in a torpid state and appear dead, but might soon be revived by bringing them into a warm room, and sprinkling them with water. Of course, however, if they are to be destroyed, it should be without rousing them from their stupor. The eggs of insects should also be sought for and destroyed. Those of the lackey moth will be found on twigs, fixed firmly round them like bracelets of small beads. These should be burnt, as they are too hard to be crushed. The eggs of the vapourer moth will be found on the outside of the cocoon, looking like a bag of spider’s eggs. A very small scale-like insect will also sometimes be found on the branches of the rose-trees, which should be carefully removed. Indeed, as a precautionary measure, it is well to brush the branches of all the rose-trees in this month with soft soap and water, to destroy any eggs that may be adhering to them. Sometimes trees and shrubs are planted in January if the weather be favourable, but this it very seldom is, as if not frosty it is generally very wet.

In the kitchen-garden the fruit-trees and shrubs, particularly the gooseberries, should be carefully examined for eggs of insects; and the trunk and branches of all suspected trees and shrubs should be brushed with soft soap and hot water.

February.

In this month, if the weather be favourable, the gardeners “dress” their beds; that is, they dig and rake them, manuring them if necessary. In the flower-garden the Californian annuals that had stood the winter in some waste part of the garden are now brought forward by spadefuls, and laid over the beds intended for them. The early bulbs, such as the snow-drop and the Scotch crocus begin to appear, and here and there a splendid cloth of gold glitters among them in its rich yellow and brown. The winter aconite and the beautiful hepaticus are now in full glory; and in short all nature appears awakening from the sleep of winter. This is pre-eminently the season for spring planting; and all the trees and shrubs, and even herbaceous plants that are to be removed are put into the ground. The garden rose-trees and other hardy flowering shrubs are pruned, care being taken always to cut them in a slanting direction, and to a bud. When the rose-bushes have sent up long untidy shoots, every alternate shoot may be cut down to within a few inches of the ground. Thus treated, the shoots that are left will flower, and those that were cut down will send up strong and vigorous shoots for flowering the succeeding year, when the present flowering stems may be cut in. The bushes will thus be kept of moderate size, and of a compact habit of growth, without the flowering being materially checked. In February the ranunculus roots are planted that are to flower in the following May, and a hot-bed is made for the tender annuals. In short, the business of the gardener’s year has commenced.

In the kitchen-garden, if the weather be open, the gooseberries and currants should be pruned, and also such of the fruit-trees as have been left for spring pruning. If the winter has been very hard, the gooseberries and currants are left as long as possible unpruned, because the birds, when driven to distress for want of food, very often pick off the buds, and should the number of buds have been previously diminished by pruning, the hopes of the season for a good crop of fruit are generally destroyed. Radishes and lettuce should be sown in February, and spinage; also the first crop of peas and beans. The strawberry-beds are pruned and dressed, and the raspberry shoots shortened and cut in.

March.

This is the sowing month. In the flower-garden the seeds of hardy annuals are sown in the open border. Turf is laid down where wanted, and grass-seeds are sown. Rose-trees are sometimes planted in this month, and the climbing kinds are pruned and trained. The best sorts for training as pyramids of roses are the Noisette and Boursault kinds, and some of the hybrid China. The box edgings are taken up and replanted, and the gravel walks are raked or turned over, and new gravel added if requisite. 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 weather 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 without 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, Brompton 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 pruning 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 form the most laborious period of the gardener’s year.

April.