i88i.] 



CALENDAR. 



this month ; attend to the stopping of 

 growing shoots, and do not allow the 

 foliage to become crowded. Keep the 

 glass clean, so that as much light as 

 possible can get at them. 



Strawberries in Pots.— Put a quan- 

 tity of these into such as the early 

 Peach - house and vinery, where no 

 Strawberry-house proper exists. But 



where they can be placed on a bed of 

 fermenting leaves close to the glass, it 

 is the best place for them. Put those 

 in the smallest pots in heat first. See 

 that there are no worms in the soil, 

 and that it is moist. Do not exceed 

 a night -heat of 50° till they have 

 started to grow, and give them more 

 or less air every day. 



KITCHEN-GARDEN. 



This being the last month of the year, 

 it is a very suitable time to "take 

 stock " of the garden and its produce ; 

 note what improvements on the past 

 system of management may have at- 

 tention ; also the value of the class 

 of vegetables which have been cul- 

 tivated — what should be discarded, 

 and what are worthy of retaining 

 for future crops. Such a system, well 

 carried out, saves disappointment and 

 waste. The seed-bill will soon be put 

 into form, and one does not wish a 

 repetition of inferior and unsuitable 

 kinds. All gardening practice should 

 be made as simple as possible; and 

 noting one's experience tends greatly 

 towards that end. Few practical men 

 keep in the same beaten track with 

 due success attending it. Improve- 

 ments can be made in most gardens, 

 however small they may be. We find 

 that we have many kinds of vegetables 

 which we would not like to cultivate 

 on our heavy land again. Several 

 varieties of Celery, Brussels Sprouts, 

 Lettuce, Onions, and Potatoes, are in 

 the list, which will require revision. 

 Celery, as an example, is large, well 

 blanched, and sound ; but while some 

 of the kinds are solid, nutty, and of 

 general good quality, others, though 

 large, are very inferior. Two kinds we 

 like much are Major Clarke's Red and 

 Turner's Incomparable — the latter is 

 under many synonyms. 



Arrange as far as possible what the 

 plots are to contain next year, and 

 manure or other preparations can be 

 applied accordingly. Roots do well 

 where ground was well prepared the 

 previous year with manure. Most crops 

 do satisfactorily in deep well-prepared 

 ground. Cabbage and most of the 

 Brassica kinds (not Broccoli) thrive on 

 well-manured land. What improve- 

 ments are to be made (if any) should 

 have attention while weather is open. 

 Treading about on wet ground is a 

 practice which should be abhorred. 



Plenty of work in frost}^ weather is 

 always at hand : stake-making, seed- 

 cleaning, Onion and root inspecting, 

 label-making (large ones are wanted 

 for vegetable crops), manure-turning, 

 burning of brushwood, and storing the 

 ashes for using as a mixture in soils. 

 A good quantity of leaves ought to be 

 stored where they can be had. AVheu 

 rotted by using them in hotbeds or 

 otherwise, they are excellent for heavy 

 soils, or such as do not require rich 

 dressings of manure. Trenching and 

 digging may be pushed forward where 

 any ground becomes vacant. Manure- 

 wheeling is always suitable for frosty 

 weather. The last three winters of 

 severe weather caught many "nap- 

 ping," which led to a deal of bustle 

 when spring arrived. Protecting of 

 crops must not be overlooked. Arti- 

 chokes, if not already done, should 

 have litter placed round their collars, 

 or fine coal - ashes. This applies to 

 Globe kinds. The roots of Jerusalem 

 Artichokes may be protected with 

 ashes or litter placed over them. 

 They are hardy, but when severe 

 weather sets in they cannot be got 

 from the ground if left exposed. Cel- 

 ery should have litter thrown over the 

 ridges ; but they are better exposed 

 while weather is mild. Asparagus 

 should not be smothered with heavy, 

 wet, holding manure. Well-rotted hot- 

 bed manure suits it well, and richer 

 stuff may be given early in spring, and 

 neatly pointed into the ground. Chan- 

 nels may be made to lead off surplus 

 water. Peas and Beans may be sown 

 on a warm dry border, and dusted 

 with red-lead mixed with ashes : rats 

 and mice would then be kept from 

 them. Earth up Celery where re- 

 quired, but not to choke up the hearts 

 and cause rotting. Beet may be cov- 

 ered with ashes, if preferred to have 

 it fresh from the ground. 



Broccoli may be lifted to pits if such 

 are to spare for protection. Orchard- 



