For December, 1921 



805 



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I Work for the Month in the Garden | 



I SAMUEL GOLDING I 



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TO speak of work in the garden (Inring Deceniljer, 

 may seem somewhat out of the qnestion, but the 

 mild and open weather which we have experienced 

 this Fall and early Winter may have delayed the giving 

 of final protection to those plants which may succumb if 

 left to the mercy of the elements. Now the most impor- 

 tant work on hand is to provide the more tender subjects 

 with adequate protection so that we can look forward 

 with confidence to their certain revival next Spring. 



No doubt all preparations have been made to have pro- 

 tective materials on hand in case of a sudden demand for 

 them. Wind breaks of corn stalks can be placed around 

 rhodendrons and azalea beds where they are planted in 

 an exposed position, or if placed to break the prevailing 

 winds, will do much to enable them to withstand the rigors 

 of Winter safely. Give the beds a good mulch of leaves. 



Screens of canvas, burlap or other suitable protective 

 material may be placed around evergreens which are 

 liable to suffer from the cutting winds and severe front. 

 If wire netting has been placed around rose beds or other 

 subjects to be protected, the leaves or other protecting 

 material can be placed in position after the ground has 

 become frozen. This prevents the frost from entering, 

 but also shuts out the heat, which keeps the basal buds 

 dormant, and prevents harm from alternate frosts and 

 thaws, which is so detrimental, especially to surface root- 

 ing plants. 



A few spruce branches spread around will prevent the 

 leaves from being blown away by the gales. .\ mulch 

 of manure or leaf soil is beneficial to the herbaceous bor- 

 der, especially to those plants which have no Winter 

 foliage. Care must be exercised when protecting plants 

 with foliage ; a rough strawy mulch through which the 

 air can penetrate freely is the best. 



Strawberries should be given their final protection and 

 leaves and corn stalks are the most satisfactory. Salt 

 hay or straw can be used, but avoid if possible anything 

 which contains seeds as this will be a source of. trouble 

 later on. 



Where raspberries suffer during the Winter, protec- 

 tion must be afforded them. This can be given by laying 

 the canes on the ground and covering over with soil, or 

 they can be tied up and protected with straw. 



See to it that celerv wintering outside has enough pro- 

 tection, and cover spinach with salt hay. As a precaution 

 against very severe weather, bank fermenting materials 

 aroimd pits and frames. .Admit air on every favorable 

 opportunity to plants wintering in the frames and remove 

 ail decaying foliage. 



Now that plant ^growth has practically ceased, prepa- 

 rations may be made for next year's work. This can be 

 done by placing under cover good stocks of compost, 

 loam, leaf soil and sand for propagating; sowing seed and 

 trans])lanting seedlings. 



Make up any deficiency of flats; gather and sharpen 

 pea bru.sh and bean poles. Tt is best to replenish all tools 

 and things needed for next year during the Winter months 

 to have them on hand when wanted. 



Continue to bring in successional batches of rhubarb, 

 seakale, asparagus, and chicory for forcing. Collect 

 materials for mushroom beds as soon as those first , 

 spawned show signs of exhau.stion. Inspect at frequent 

 intervals the stock of fruit, potatoes, etc. Remove any 



sluiwing signs of decay, otherwise nuich loss may result. 



During snow storms care should be taken that ever- 

 greens do not become heavily overladen. The snow 

 should be shaken olif with poles to prevent harm and pos- 

 sible irreparable damage to valuable specimens. 



In mild and open weather advantage can be taken to 

 ]iush on with work on the land, walks and drives, thin- 

 ning and pruning old trees in the orchard. The first 

 Winter spray can soon be applied. 



Sprays effective as insecticides and fungicides are de- 

 sirable. These are freely advertised, and can be obtained 

 from all seedsmen, with full directions for use. Lime 

 sulphur is a popular and eft'ective spray and can easilv be 

 made up at home. There are several formula? for making 

 this up. The following one is very good. Place about 

 ten pounds of fresh quicklime in a wooden barrel large 

 enough to hold fifty gallons ; pour on enough water to 

 cover it. As soon as the lime begins to slake, pour in ten 

 pounds of flowers of sulphur, stirring it well to make a 

 thorough mi.xture. Add enough water to cover it and 

 then place sacking over it to keep in the heat and allow it 

 to boil twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Make up 

 this mixture to fifty gallons with water. 



The present season has been remarkable for wealth 

 of color and abundance of berries on the various shrubs. 

 Home grounds which have been planted with an eye for 

 Winter effects give the gardens a picturesque and cheerful 

 touch of color during the dull season. In gardens of small 

 and limited areas it is often impossible to spare the room, 

 but this is a feature that is worth while. Everyone is 

 familiar with Bcrbcris Thuiibergii. which is now a con- 

 spicuous object, its bright berries persisting for a long 

 time. Groups of Rosa nmltillora, and R. liicida and vari- 

 eties of Cratcegus, Cotoneaster horicontalis, the bush hon- 

 eysuckles, Loniccra talarica and L. Morrozi-ii. the Snow 

 Berry. 



Symphorkarpus raccmosus, S. vulgaris combined with 

 plantings of evergreens and deciduous shrubs used for 

 their colored barks or stems such as the varied cornus, 

 and willows, bright green of Kcrria japoiiica. the silvery 

 barks of birches, Ela-agiiiis loiigipcs, Eiioiiyniiis alata, the 

 cork barked burning bush, are a few of the most common, 

 and generally useful for Winter effect. 



Mankind needs a world-wide benediction of under- 

 standing. It is needed among individuals, among peoples, 

 among governments, and it will inaugurate an era 

 of good feeling to mark the birth of a new order. In 

 such understanding men will strike confidentlv for 

 the jjromotion of their better relationships, and na- 

 tions will promote the comities so essential to 

 peace. . . I would like to acclaim an era of good 

 feeling amid dependable prospcritj' and all the bless- 

 ings which attend. . . . The world has witnessed, 

 again and again, the futilitv and the mischief of ill- 

 considered remedies for social and economic disorders. 

 But we are mindful today, as never before, of the 

 friction of modern industrialism and we must learn 

 its causes and reduce its evil consequence by sob.'r 

 and tested methods. Where genius has made for 

 great possibilities, justice and happiness must be re- 

 flected in a greater common welfare. — President 

 I i.xunixn. 



