THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 369 



preferable. But now we want no geometric or chromatic rules, 

 Delicate touches of colour are of no consequence, but our ideas of 

 warmth and plenty should be kept in view at every step. Nothing 

 snits so well as a display of good fruits with twigs of holly and 

 pyracantha, and a few good flowers sprinkled over them. Apples 

 and pears afford splendid masses of colour ; camellias, tulips, and 

 carnations will keep fresh and beautiful many hours if their stems 

 are tucked in between cool fruits, for of course there must be no 

 water ; and it is advisable there should be nothing poisonous — so I 

 say nothing of the Christmas rose or of the Solanums for admixture 

 with fruits. 



The following are most valuable shrubs to cut from for Christmas 

 decorations : Minorca box, round-leaved box, Lauristinus, generally 

 in flower at this time, Arbutus with ripe fruit, Berberis Darwinii, 

 lovely for delicate wreaths and fillets, though very thorny, Coto- 

 neaster rotundifolia, Crataegus pyracantha, Daphne laureola, Euony- 

 mus Europreus, the leaves are off now, but there are plenty of coral 

 berries ; in cutting branches, handle them tenderly, for the berries 

 fall if roughly used. Of hollies, the silvery-leaved kinds are un- 

 doubtedly the best, for they glitter splendidly in gaslight. Phillyrea, 

 several sorts ; the holly oak (Quercus ilex) is first-rate. Skimmias 

 of all kinds. 



Lastly, it must not be forgotten that vases and other such 

 receptacles can be dressed very effectually by means of dried grasses 

 and artificial flowers. But for information on growing, preparing, 

 and arranging these, reference must be made to the Floral World 

 for March 1869, in which occurs an illustration of a wreath of 

 artificial flowers and grasses. S. H. 



WINTER WOEK IN THE KITCHEN GAEDEN. 



BY GEORGE GRAY. 



LTHOUGH the kitchen garden presents fewer attractions 

 at this season of the year than at any other period, it 

 must on no account be neglected, and those who pay 

 much attention to the cultivation of vegetables have an 

 abundance of work to occupy their heads and hands 

 during the next two months. 



In the first place, it is necessary to determine at once what each 

 quarter is to be cropped with next season, so as to be able to prepare 

 the ground according to the requirement of the several crops. Also, 

 to prevent confusion in the spring, when the sowing and planting is 

 going on ; when these arrangements are left until the spring, it is no 

 unusual occurrence to find at the last moment that there is insuffi- 

 cient or no room for some of the important crops. In gardens of a 

 considerable size, the vegetables to be grown, and the extent of the 

 crop of each, must of necessity be regulated by the taste of the 

 owner; but in small gardens, such as are allotted to the majority of 

 suburban villas, it is necessary to act with caution, and only grow 

 the most profitable. As a rule, preference should be given to vege- 



VOL. VI. — NO. XII. 24, 



