548 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



such to be the case when the plants are grown in the open air, unless 

 the plants had been raised from cuttings taken from those affected 

 by disease. 



The most effectual remedy to apply to affected plants is to turn 

 them out of their pots, shake the soil from the roots, cut them 

 back, wash those that are left after removing every diseased leaf, re- 

 pot in a poor mixture made up of sand and leaf-mould, and give the 

 plants a light, airy position. 



(To be continued.) 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS.— DECEMBER. 



If the weather should remain mild, and not too wet, garden operations 

 may be hurried forward as directed last month. We again repeat 

 that the success of vegetable growers mainly results from properly 

 preparing the soil, and doing it early. A leading article in a contem- 

 porary has some good practical remarks on this matter. Treading the 

 ground, when very wet, is an evil which should be strictly guarded 

 against. If early Peas are to be sown now or in January, the surface 

 of the soil cannot be made too free ; and it is much in favour of the 

 seed if a quantity of old soil from pots, &c, can be placed above and 

 below it in the rows, as growth will then start more freely. Most 

 cultivators are aware of the value of warm dry soil for newly-sown 

 seed. If early-sown Peas should appear through the ground, a cover- 

 ing of dry soil of some kind should be placed over the young tops, or 

 the earth drawn up to cover them. When the weather is frosty, it gives 

 a good opportunity of getting out manure ; it should not, however, be 

 left exposed to the weather, but its goodness kept in by a covering of 

 earth. Leaves, turfs, sand, manures, and all kinds of useful garden- 

 material, may be collected when other work cannot be carried on. 

 Everything in the shape of soil should be harvested dry ; some who 

 cannot get it under cover thatch it to keep it dry. Pea-stakes may be 

 made, standing them on their ends, keeping them flat, and placing 

 them compactly together. Making and cleaning off old names of 

 labels may have attention. Stakes for plants may be made or fresh 

 pointed. Trimmings of Thorn hedges, Filbert and Apple trees, tied 

 in straight bundles and stored till required, make useful flower-stakes 

 in absence of better material. All operations, such as draining, im- 

 proving fences, or other work apart from the garden, may have atten- 

 tion while the season is not so pressing. See that roots of all kinds 

 are not decaying, and also secure plenty of Parsnips, Jerusalem Arti- 

 chokes, &c, under cover, to have them at hand if severe frost should 



