DECEMBER. 289 



HINTS FOR THE MONTH. 



Auriculas. The frames containing these plants should now be 

 placed to face the south or south-east. Very little will be required 

 to be done this month, beyond keeping them clean both of dead 

 foliage and aphides, with just sufficient water to keep the soil from 

 drying through ; plenty of air is indispensable ; if severe frost should 

 set in, cover with mats, or the substitute frigi domo, at night. The 

 plants must have no rain. 



Calceolarias. These will be growing fast, and must not be neg- 

 lected if becoming pot-bound, but have an immediate shift. Cal- 

 ceolarias succeed much better in a pit than in a greenhouse, unless 

 kept near the glass. 



Carnations and Picotees. These now will be quiet for some time, 

 the weather having changed much in their favour; by no means use 

 the water-pot, if it can be avoided ; if wintered moderately dry, no 

 cold will injure them, neither will the spot make head. This plague 

 to the Carnation-grower is engendered by too much moisture daring 

 the short dark days and damp weather of November and December, 

 and can only be resisted by keeping the plants clean, dry, and giving 

 them plenty of air. Some plants are attacked with it much more 

 readily than others; these should be the first potted -up for winter- 

 ing, to become established and well hardened. 



Cinerarias. Strong plants for the May exhibitions will soon re- 

 quire their final repotting into eight-inch pots, using rich but rather 

 light soil. The plants should have plenty of room, and be kept near 

 the glass ; tie or peg out the side-shoots as they grow long enough. 

 The general stock should have been finally repotted in October, and 

 will now only require fumigating occasionally, with sufficient room to 

 keep them from drawing. Sulphur the foliage if mildew appears. 



Cold Frames. The present is a most trying season for such 

 persons as have to preserve greenhouse and half-hardy plants in cold 

 frames. Frost and damp will require to be guarded against with 

 watchful diligence, particularly the. latter. It is easy to exclude frost; 

 plenty of clean dry straw with which to cover the glass, and a thick- 

 ness of 12 or 18 inches of any nonconducting material placed against 

 the sides of the frame, will leave little to fear from the intrusion of 

 the ice-king ; but be careful that he does not pay you a visit while 

 you may have neglected these precautions. If a light waterproof 

 cloth be applied to cover the straw, it will be found highly beneficial. 

 Damp will probably prove the most troublesome and destructive agent 

 of the two : this is more effectually guarded against by the constant 

 application of forethought and preventive measures, than by any 

 means which can be applied after the enemy has fairly got possession; 

 and unless the most rigid attention has been paid hitherto to such 

 means, the number of deaths will probably be great. Never water 

 any plant which does not absolutely require it ; water early in the 



