DECEMBER. 377 



unless with the very hardiest evergreens (which may be planted almost 

 any time), we should defer the others till the spring. Where the 

 border soil of shrubberies is exhausted, a good dressing of dung should 

 be added ; now is a good time to thin out and prune deciduous shrubs. 

 Rose borders should be well dressed with manure and forked in, or 

 soaked with manure water. Keep the Grass free from leaves and 

 frequently rolled. 



Forcing Ground. — The severe frosts of late will render forced 

 vegetables more necessary, for which reason French Beans, Seakale, 

 Asparagus, and Rhubarb will be in demand, and their production 

 should be attended to regularly, so as to keep up a succession. If our 

 previous advice was taken, to plant a pit or two of dwarf Beans when 

 there was the means of heating, they will now prove invaluable. Fill 

 a few lights with Asparagus every two or three weeks, to keep up a 

 succession during mid-winter; a hot-water pit is the best place for this 

 useful root. Parsley, Endive, and Lettuce, in frames, should have an 

 abundance of air daily, and the same rule applies to small Cauliflowers 

 and Lettuce for the spring. A slight hotbed should now be got ready 

 for a sowing of Horn Carrot and frame Radish, and a few early Potatoes 

 may be put in heat- to sprout. 



Hard-wooded Plants. — These will require free admission of air on 

 all opportunities. Do not light the fires to any extent, beyond occasion- 

 ally drying the house and to keep out frost. On this point, we prefer 

 covering the glass in severe weather with some protective material to 

 making strong fires. Let the plants be kept clean, and free from dust. 



Hardy Fruit. — Where wall fruit trees have been much infested with 

 insects, it is a good plan to unnail them at this season, pick off the 

 shreds, and to boil those that will come into use again, to destroy the 

 eggs of insects ; the best of the nails, too, after being heated in a shovel 

 over a hot fire, and well shaken to remove the dirt from them, should 

 be dropped into linseed oil ; the walls may then be washed over with a 

 wash composed of cement and Spanish red (for colouring), adding a 

 little sulphur vivum. Where walls are old and the trees much infested 

 with insects during the summer, we have found the above plan assist 

 materially to keep the trees clean afterwards. Pears and Plums 

 infested with scale should be dressed over with the Gishurst compound, 

 using from three- to four ounces per gallon ; and the same composition 

 may be applied to any trees on which insects have been troublesome 

 the past season. Continue the pruning and training of hardy fruit trees 

 as the weather permits, and protect Figs by tying the branches together 

 and wrapping haybands round them, or thatching the trees with Fern or 

 straw. Look to the fruit-room, and remove anything decaying before it 

 infects those adjoining, keeping the air and temperature uniform, as 

 advised in our last. 



Kitchen Garden. — The frosts of October and November have com- 

 mitted sad havoc among vegetables, and, to judge of its severity by the 

 results, it has been the most destructive frost we have had for years. 

 Great care should be taken with all spring plants, as Cauliflowers, 

 Lettuce, Spinach, Cabbage, &c, as vegetables will be very scarce in 



