29 

 GAEDEX GUIDE EOE JANUAEY. 



This is a dead time, and there is almost nothing to be done out of doors except on 

 those rare occasions when the weather is genial and open, and the ground is neither 

 frozen norsoddened. Then planting may go on, manure may be carried and spread, 

 and peas and beans be sown. In plant-houses there is not much work to do, but 

 what little there is should be dons with care, for tender plants will not bear careless 

 treatment with sucli impunity now as in the summer time. It will soon be time for 

 the cultivator of bedding plants to start old stools of verbenas, petunias, centaureas, 

 etc., into growth in a generous heat to furnish cuttings for this year's display, and 

 a great many kinds of flower seeds*may now be sown, and have the aid of a steady 

 heat. 



Kitchen Garden. — Early supplies of radishes, horn carrots, two bladed onions 

 (for salads), and many other useful things, may Ije obtained on light rich borders 

 raised above the general level, and sheltered with high walls from the north. It is 

 worth the while of every cultivator of table delicacies to form such a border for 

 the production of a few of those saladings and tender vegetables which are so highly 

 prized in spring, and which, if purchased, are found to be costly. A.ri abundance of 

 manure, with sand, and, if possible, light turfy loam, should be used in the formation 

 of such borders, and the roots of trees should not be permitted to ramify through 

 them. All kinds of things may be sown together, such as horn carrots, radishes and 

 onions, but we prefer to keep all ours separate. The sowing should be done 

 when the ground is somewhat dry, and an abundance of light clean litter should be 

 kept in readiness to cover the bed with in case of frost. 



Floicer Garden. — Bulbs, roses, and deciduous shrubs may still be planted when 

 the ground is in a fit state, but it is not a good time to move evergreens ; where 

 florists' flowers are cultivated, frosty weather aff'ords a good opportunity for carting 

 in turf, manure, etc., and for turning heaps of compost. When the heaps are well 

 frozen on the outside, have them broken open and turned to expose a fresh surface 

 to the frost, and to give t ,e robins and thrushes a chance of picking out the wire- 

 worms and grubs. 



Greenhouse and Conservatory. — Beware of cold and damp combined, as most 

 injurious to tender plants. However delicately constituted, plants endure frost with 

 less harm when tolerably dry than when damp. During long-continued frosts damp 

 is sometimes too carefully avoided, and a house full of plants may become so dry as 

 to be half spoiled; this, 'of course, is most likely to occur where fire-heat is used 

 constantly. It is our constant practice when the fires are going briskly to have an 

 occasional look round to see that the plants are not being dried up. All plants 

 coming into flower must be kept near the glass. 



For full particulars of the work of the season, we refer to past volumes of the 

 Floral Woklb, and to the Garden Oracle for 1868. 



Frosted Plants. — "Whatever is touched with frost keep dark and cool, and 

 damage will be lessened, if not entirely obviated." The effect of frost on plants 

 depends considerably on the state it finds them in. Soft-wooded greenhouse plants 

 are killed instanter if they are in a moist atmosphere and growing temperature with 

 fall enjoyment of light; but if moderately dry, and well covered so as to be almost 

 in total darkness, very many even of the tenderest will bear a few degrees with 

 impunity. This advice may be of use now, for we may have a smart time of it 

 yet, before the cowslips blossom. If frost gets into a house, and makes its mark on 

 the minimum thermometer, draw down the blind, if you have one, at once, or cover 

 the lights with tarpaulin, straw, or vfhatever may bo at hand to exclude the light, 

 and be particularly careful not to get up the heat in a hurry. To raise the tem- 

 perature is, of course, essential, but it will be well to keep it at about 33° for a day 

 at least, that thawing may take place slowly. A few degrees of frost met in this 

 way will do much less harm than is generally inflicted where the terrified cultivator 

 heaps on the fuel, in the mistaken notion that fire is the proper antidote to freezing. 

 The same remark holds good as to fruit. The frost gets into part of the store of 

 apples and pears, and some are frozen hard. If they are allowed to thaw sloAvly, 

 and in the dark, they are not a whit the worse for the visitation. If thawed in full 

 daylight, they would probably melt in the operation. 



