1873.] GARDEN WOEK FOR DECEMBER. 287 



while forced Gardenias will more than compensate for the lack of Stephanotis. 

 The newer Bouvardias are also an immense acquisition at this season, alike for 

 fragrance and colour. All roof-climbers must now be closely pruned, with the 

 exception of Bougainvillea sjiectahilis ; where it is used for this purpose, it con- 

 tinues to flower gloriously throughout the winter ; and the Tacsorda Von 

 VoLvemi also goes on very late, if it can have a temperature of 50°. A forcing-pit 

 or house should be available in all gardens for bringing on Roses, Lilacs, Rho- 

 dodendrons, Ilardy Azaleas, Deidzias, Bulbs, <fec., to flower in the drawing- 

 room and conservatory ; a temperature of 55° to 60° is needed for this purpose. 

 Cold pits and frames full of Bedding plants, Florists^ flowers, &c., should be kept 

 as cool and as dry as possible. Exclude frost and damp, and in watering the 

 plants see that the roots only are wetted, and that leaf and branch are preserved 

 dry.— D. T. Fish. 



FRUITS. 

 In-dooes. — Pine Apples : The entire stock will require careful attention at this 

 season. For plants now swelling their fruit attend to the directions given last 

 month. The plants intended for starting next month should still be kept at rest in 

 a temperature not below 60° during the night. Keep the succession plants in all 

 stages steadily moving, and in frosty weather use coverings as much as possible, 

 in order to obviate the necessity for too much fire-heat, which, in the absence 

 of solar light, weakens the plants ; give air at every favourable opportunity, and 

 see the bottom-heat does not fall below 80°. Vines : Gradually raise the tem- 

 perature of the early-house to 60 ' by night and 70° by day, with an increase of 

 12° or 14° by sun-heat ; attend carefully to the tying-down of the shoots, and 

 remove all superfluous ones ; give a little air, whenever the state of the weather 

 permits, as early in the morning as possible ; avoid keeping too moist an 

 atmosphere, which is decidedly wrong at this season of the year. The directions 

 given last month for the early house Avill apply to the second house, which 

 should be started this month. All vineries containing ripe grapes should be kept 

 as dry as possible, without using too much fire-heat ; examine the bunches fre- 

 quently, and cut out all decaying berries. Peaches and Nectarines: If not 

 already done, start the early house at once ; give the inside borders a good soaking 

 of water, and follow the directions given last month. If not already done, prune 

 and dress the trees in the late houses ; in mild weather give all the air possible, 

 but in frosty weather it is better to close the lights. Figs : If these have not 

 been pruned and dressed as recommended last month, the present is a good time 

 to do it ; also to shift any plants that may require a larger pot or tub ; use a 

 compost of turfy loam and rotten dung, and press the soil firmly in potting. In 

 mild weather give plenty of air, and in severe weather use sufllcient fire-heat to 

 exclude frost. Clierries : The first batch of plants should now be under glass ; let 

 them have plenty of air when the weather permits. Htvairherrics : Introduce the 

 first batch of plants for forcing. At this season they cannot have too much light ; 

 they should therefore be kept close to the glass. They may either bo put on 

 shelves where they can have plenty of air, or plunged in a bed of leaves in pita 

 until they begin to grow. Take care the plants in winter quarters do not get 

 frozen, on any account. 



OuT-DoOES. — Proceed with the planting of Fndt-trccs of all kinds in mild, 

 favourable weather. In planting see that the roots are carefully spread out, and 

 that the soil is put in properly about them ; cover the roots afterwards with 

 a good mulching of half-rotten dung, and secure all standards properly to 

 stakes. Persevere in Pruning and Nailing wall-trees in mild Aveather, as it is 

 very desirable to get as much of this work completed before Spring as possible ; 



