DECEMBER. 377 



Cucumbers. — Winter fruit must not be allowed to stand still for 

 want of bottom or top boat, or mildew will soon attack them. Adiiiit a 

 gentle circulation of air about them when the days are fine. Keep the 

 Vines thin, and water with liquid manure when water is required. 



Dahlias. — l^ee that the seed is carefully dried ; it will winter best in 

 the chaff if dry and cleaned just before sowing. See that the roots are 

 not getting dam}) and mouldy ; cut away the dead stalks. 



HoUi/hocks. — Late struck plants may be moved along \\\\\\ a little 

 heat ; it should be very gentle, giving air at the same time. Give all 

 the first struck plants plenty of root room. No more cuttings should be 

 put in before early in February ; the old roots should be kept dormant 

 till that time, \vhen they may be gently excited to make them produce 

 cuttings. 



Flower Garden and Shruhberi/. — When the weather is mild and 

 the ground in suitable condition, the removing of deciduous trees and 

 shrubs may be proceeded with ; when removing those of weight and 

 size, every precaution should be taken to get them into their new 

 quarters with as little damage to the roots as possible. 



Forcing Ground. — Asparagus, Seakale, and Rhubarb, should at 

 once be set to work, if they are required to be in by Christmas. Unless 

 there are permanent beds of Asparagus, which can be heated by duncr 

 linings or hot-water pipes, no better plan can be followed than to take 

 the roots up carefully, and pack them in light rich soil, over a bed of 

 leaves and dung, where the bottom heat is mild. Let them be pretty 

 near the glass, for the heads require abundance of light when above the 

 soil, to give them colour and flavour. 



Fruit Room. — Fruit intended for long keeping, after being deposited 

 in the house for two or three weeks, should be kept in the dark, and at 

 a very uniform temperature, not exceeding 40°. Both heat and light 

 excite a slight action in the cells of the fruit, and hasten maturity and 

 decay. Look over fruit generally, and place such as show indications 

 of decay on one side for present use. Where damp prevails the doors 

 or windows may be opened occasionally on dry days, or the room may 

 be aerated by a stove, should the damp be excessive. The finer kinds 

 of Pears are improved in flavour by being placed in a room a few degrees 

 warmer than the ordinary fruit room before sending them to table. 



Kitchen Garden. — As before advised, protect tender vegetables on 

 the approach of frost, and keep a good store of salad plants and tender 

 things in frames, &c., for frosty weather. Sow a few Early Horn 

 Carrot and Short- top Radish on a warm south border, and cover with 

 straw or Fern till the seeds vegetate Early Peas should be sown at 

 once ; we found the earliest varieties last season were Sangster's No. 1 

 and Daniel O'Rourke. Let the plot on which they are sown be dry 

 and sheltered, or, which is preferable, a south border, protected by a 

 wall. Mazagan or Dwarf Fan Beans may likewise be sown now, in a 

 sheltered place. Guard against the depredations of mice, which are 

 often troublesome to these crops. Look over former directions. 



Peach-houses. — The first house should now be put in order, going 

 over the trees and removing any wood left at the sunnner ])runing ; 

 with many kinds it is not safe to shorten the shoots just yet, as we 



