370 



THE GAEDEN GUIDE. 



Bab.— 29-99. 

 Ther.— 45, 36, 40. 



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Wind.— S.S.E., S.W. 

 Rain. — 15 in. 



Greenhouse Flowers. — Acacia 

 platyptera ; Camellias, Correa cardinalis, 

 C, delicata; Epacris carminata, E. Lady 

 Alice Peel, E. Lord Palmerston, E. pictu- 

 rata ; Erica colorans, E. hybrida, E. 

 hy emails ; Primula sinensis, in var., So- 

 lanum eapsiscastrum, and Wetherhill's 

 hybrids. 



Garden Fiowers. — Aconitum autum- 

 nalis, Chrysanthemum tripartitum. Cam- 

 panula colorata, Bupthalmum salicifoHum, 

 Eupatorium truncatum, Galium capillipes, 

 Selleborus fa'tidus, Tussilago fragrant ; 

 Violets in variety. 



The Weather. — The weather of December is usually very changeable, with 

 much dampness when the wind is S. W. ; frosts of short duration, and not frequent. 



Flower Garden. — All ground work should be pushed on as fast as circum- 

 stances will permit, to enable it to get thoroughly settled before spring. This is a 

 very good time to form fresh lawns, and lay down turf. Work of this kind is 

 frequently left until spring, and generally entails an immense amount of labour in 

 watering, to keep the grass alive ; whereas, if laid down at this season of the year, 

 it would be thoroughly established before the weather is hot enough to affect it. 

 Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted during the early part of the month with 

 reasonable chance of success, but unless the planting can be finished quickly, it 

 will be well to leave it until the spring. All unoccupied beds and borders should be 

 dug up, and the surface left rough, to enable the weather to act upon it. Now 

 that the trees have all shed their leaves, clear the shrubbery borders, to prevent 

 their being blown about with every gust of wind, and littering the walks and grass- 

 plots. Protect tea and other tender roses with dry litter or fern ; but where they 

 are growing in a prominent position, this system of protection will be objectionable, 

 and, instead of adopting it, take the plants up carefully, and lay them in by their 

 heels in a sheltered corner, and cover with litter or fern. These can be planted 

 again early in March, and will, if handled carefully, scarcely feel the shift. 



Greenhouse. — Many amateurs lose large numbers of plants, simply because 

 they crowd the house as full as it will hold, and then waLer in the same careless 

 manner as in summer, and fancy, because the weather happens to be cold, that the 

 ventilators must be kept close. To keep the usual stock of greenhouse plants in 

 health during the winter, maintain a comparatively dry atmosphere, which must be 

 regularly changed by opening the ventilators on all favourable opportunities ; and 

 if there is any danger of the temperature falling too low, apply a little fire-heat 

 during the time the ventilators are open. To economize fuel, as well as for the 

 sake of the health of the plants, cover the glass with thick canvas, mats, or frigi- 

 domo, during very sharp frosts, to prevent the escape of the heat. Water early, 

 and choose a clear, bright day for that purpose. It will be better to let the plants 



Bplbous Flowers. — Amaryllis for- 

 mossissima, A. vittata ; Broaiaa grandi- 

 foora; Tropwolum tuberosum; Oxalis 

 lobata ; U. marginata, Phadranassa 

 chloracra ; Crocuses, Hyacinths, Tulips, 

 and Narcissi. 



Stove Flowers. — Begonia Saunder- 

 liana, B. hybrida multiflora ; Bouvardia 

 Hogarth, B. lont/ijlora, Ventradenia rosea, 

 JSpipliyllwm truncatum, in var. ; Setero- 

 centrum roseum, Justicia speciosa, Moqeria 

 gratissima, Limatodes rosea, * Barkeria 

 elegans* Vendrobium moniliforme* Zygo- 

 petalum crinitum candtum*. 



"Come and see the works of God : He is terrible in his doing toward tbe 

 children of men. He turned the sea into dryland: they went through the flood 

 on foot : there did we rejoice in Him. He ruleth by his power for ever ; his eyes 

 behold the nations; let not the rebellious exilt themselves."— Psa. lxvi. 5—7. 



