338 



GARDENERS- CIIROMCLE 



Work for the Month in the Garden 



SAMUEL GOLDING 



Dl'RIXG this season, the main work in the garden is 

 to see to it that the more tender subjects are pro- 

 vided with adequate protection. iNIany of the most 

 attractive and decorative subjects we have, suffer some- 

 what in popularitv because their hardiness is open to ques- 

 tion. The position and locaHty. of course, plays an im- 

 portant part in their successful culture. Some may be 

 condemned solely because the\- may have been planted in 

 an unsuitable position. 



Regarding the varied subjects, some care should be 

 exercised in providing suitable protection and to avoid as 

 far as possible, using imsig'htly material. Spruce branches 

 are well adapted and make excellent screens, and when 

 they are available, are more picturesque, than corn stalks. 

 Excellent though they are for wind breaks, they should 

 be used in the less conspicuous places of the garden. Up 

 to the time of writing (first week in December) we have 

 been favored with exceptionally fine and 0]>en weather, 

 which has delayed the final application of the protecting 

 material. It is, however, practical to have everj'thing in 

 readiness, as these pleasant conditions may change with 

 great rapidity. 



It has been previously referred to in these columns 

 that rough litter, leaves, pine branches, or other material 

 through which the air can penetrate, is the best to use, 

 especially so for the class of plants whose foliage persists 

 above the ground during the Winter, such as Sweet 

 \\'illiams, Shasta daisies. Oriental poppies, Artemisia, etc. 

 Experience necessarily teaches the amount of covering 

 the various plants need. It is oftimes more dangerous to 

 give too much than when done in a sparing manner, es- 

 pecially so in the case of some herbaceous plants. Where 

 too heavy material is used, if we get a mild spell during 

 the early days of March, the plants may start into growth, 

 and the young' shoots will probably be injured when the 

 covering is removed. 



When there is an abundant snowfall, which stays 

 throughout the Winter, it provides a blanket which can- 

 not be surpassed, and j)lants winter so much better than 

 when we experience a succession of frosts and thaws. 



The rose bushes .should by now have the soil pulled up 

 around the base; allow the ground to be well frozen uj) 

 before giving the final covering. If this is done before 

 leaves are put on, the ground will remain hard throughout 

 the Winter, and make a less pleasant abiding ])lace for 

 mice which are somewhat ])artial to the rose bed. 



Conifers and shrubs which may be injured by weights 

 of snow, should be well staked and tied to ])revent harm. 

 They should be well shaken after snowslnrms to remove 

 the weight. 



The fine weather experienced during this I'"all h is ln'cn 

 most favorable, enabling one to ]>ush on with outside 

 work, and where advantage ha.s been taken to dig and 

 trench, or do necessary alterations, he will be well ahead 

 when the Spring rush is here, in fact, the advantage 

 gained is more lasting as more time can generally be 

 devoted to doing it well, at this season. 



Tile mild spell has also i)rolonged the su])i)ly of vc;;e- 

 tables; the Hrussels s])routs, Scotch kale, and spinach have 

 been able to continue their growth. It has also been fine 

 weather for stocks in frames. As soon as the weather 

 becomes too severe pull up the Rrussels sprouts : i)ile them 



together in some place, easy of access, and cover them 

 with leaves or straw. Give the spinach a good mulch of 

 salt hay. See that enough chicory, rhubarb, horse radish, 

 parsnips, salsify, is lifted to ensure a supply throughout 

 the Winter. Go through the stocks of potatoes, roots, 

 and fruit at intervals to remove the diseased specimens. 

 Keep the onions cool and give them abundance of air 

 without allowing them to become frozen, otherwise they 

 commence to make growth and their keeping qualities are 

 impaired. 



Remo\'l decayed foliage from plants wintering in 

 frames, admit air on every favorable day. Water them 

 carefully ; they may be kept on the dry side at this stage. 

 Have a supply of fermenting material banked up around 

 the frames during severe weather. Keep a sharp lookout 

 for mice in frames where pansies and like stock is win- 

 tering. These rodents do much damage in a short time ; 

 some poisoned bait placed around is often an effective 

 precaution. Keep up the successions of forcing vegetables 

 where the facilities permit ; renew mushroom beds as the 

 old ones cease to be profitable. 



Push on with pruning and thinning in the orchard when, 

 conditions permit. See to it that newly planted stock is 

 sectirely stacked and tied to prevent it from being blown 

 about during heavy gales. Give them a good mulch of 

 rough litter or manure. Apply the first Winter spray, 

 also spray shrubs that are infested with, scale. Lilacs are 

 very subject to these i>ests. During the Winter months 

 ample 0]>portunity is afforded to secure a stock of neces- 

 sary tools, stakes, flats, etc., that will be needed in the 

 early S]>ring. Anything that can be done now along these 

 lines will be a real time-saver when many other important 

 details are pressing. 



December is generally alluded to as the gloomy month, 

 but where a garden has been planned and planted with an 

 eye to Winter effects, this garden is never devoid of in- 

 terest. A tree when covered with snow or ice glistening 

 in the sunshine is a thing of great beauty, which soon 

 pas.ses away, but a judicious planting of varied shades of 

 evergreen, berried ]>lants, deciduous shrubs of colored 

 twig, bark, and stem, all combine to make the garden a joy 

 tr(im [;muarv to December. 



ALPINES UNDER GLASS 



{Continued frain /><',;,'<• 3.5.^) 



of plants can be suitably accommodated, I'rimulas. Cycla- 

 mens, Trilliums, etc., going into the shaded bed: sun- 

 lovers such as the .Saxifrages, Sempcrvi\unis. Irises, etc., 

 uijoying the one in fullest sunshine. 



The aljjine house certainly ])rovides us with imc ni the 

 cheapest, most interesting Spring featmes in the garden 

 and one can but hope to see an even larger extension of 

 such a beautiful feature in the near fiUure. — I lir (iardcn 

 i British). 



There are two freedoms — the false, where a man is free 

 to do what he likes; the true, wliere ;i man is fri'c tn do 

 what he ought. — Cmaki.f.s Kinc;si.i ^ . 



The constant duty of every man tn his iclldw is tn 

 a.scertain his own powers and special .gifts, and to 

 strengthen them for the help of others. — Jhhn Ri'skin. 



