1 86 



IKISTI GARDF.NING. 



DKIKMBER 



l^he MontlTs \\\)rk. 

 Flower CJarden and Pleasure Grounds. 



By \V. l"sii>u. Tho C;;i;di'MS. Bivnanstown. C.-ibinleL>l\ , 

 C'o. nuhliii. 



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KM Ml 

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;i^ ll 



"Sullen and sad with all il^ ri.sing train 

 t)f vapours, cloud-, and storms." 



1 lie last, liiig^oring- leaf has fallen from the 

 oak, and we may expect to see the earth 

 whitened with frost and snow. Neverthe- 

 less a few flowers linger tc remind us of the 

 past summer ; llie Chinese rose Veronica, 

 hiurosiinas, osmantluis, and several bei - 

 ried shrubs help to relieve the sombre 

 iiareness of our g-ardens and pleasure 

 grounds ; but there does not seem to be 

 iiiough to attract the majority of amateurs, 

 who are, as a rule, tempted to desert their 

 iL^ardens. If they would only screw up their 

 courage or resolution to keep on plodding 

 now they w^oukl be amply repaid during 

 the spring and summer months, for there 

 is nothing will show neglect so much or as 

 soon as a garden. In many respects the 

 winter work is of more importance than 

 that of summer ; it is now that we have got 

 to do the uncongenial plodding work which 

 seldom shows to the unpractised eye. If 

 there happens to be a cold, damp spot in 

 our garden or pleasure grounds now is the 

 time to make our drains. If a portion of our garden 

 wall is out of repair, and that woodlice and snails have 

 taken up their abode in the crevices, from which to sally 

 forth on our fruit and flowers, now is the time to repair 

 the defects; if there are uneven patches in our lawns 

 we should now carefully lift and relay our turf ; any beds 

 or borders which may liave lost their youthful shapes 

 or curves should be attended to ; if the grass edges of 

 our walks have become irregular this is the best time 

 to cut the edges or move out the turf, as the case may- 

 be. A good many gardens are not so attractive as 

 they might be if they had more design and less con- 

 fusion reigning over them. To get work done well and 

 quickly a good methodical training is necessary for 

 either amateur or professional gardeners, 



A good many of our hardiest shrubs may be pruned 

 now, although the majority are best left over until 

 .\pril. In pruning it may be said that there are three 

 leading purposes — namely, to improve the shape, curtail 

 the size, and to induce a greater bloom, or fruitfulness. 

 The first is entirely a matter of taste, the second of 

 space, and the third may be said to be the primary 

 abject for which all flowering trees or shrubs are culti- 

 vated. One point we must always keep in mind when 

 pruning our shrubberies is to prune so that we keep a 

 tree or bush closely furnished to the bottom. 



Attend to carnations and pinks in beds or borders. 



.iiul pros llu' soil lirnily .liter Irosl or after a wind 

 storm ; they ollen gel b.ully shaken .ind become ex- 

 posed at I he " collar," The sanu- lem.irks generally 

 apply to pansies. 



Should tulips be showing over ground and very severe 

 host occur it is a good piaclice to cover over with light, 

 ilr\ leaf-mould. 



Dahlias shoukl be can-fully stored awa\ in a cool, 

 dry cellar where frost will not penetrate ; look o\er 

 tlK-m occasionally, and rcmovi- any ilecaying tubers. 



Look over cuttings of summer flowering plants in 

 frames or boxes, and remo\e any ilecaying leaves. 

 Water should be sparingly given, but as much air as 

 possible on mild, dry days. Look to .-Mpine plants that 

 they do not sufl'er fi-om tlauip or an' c.itcn b\ snails 

 and slugs. 



The Fruit Ciarden. 



By G. DooLAN. 



BLACK CURUA.XT MITE. --This pest infects 

 black currant bushes, causing an abnormal di'- 

 velopment of the buds. It is a very serious 

 disease, and has been a source of much loss to fruit 

 groweis in England. Now is a good time to examine 

 the bushes for infected buds, whicli are easily detected, 

 as they are large and oval-shaped, whereas healthy 

 buds are small and pointed. All bushes showing any 

 sign of infection should be dug up and burned, and 

 fresh lime afterwards applied to the ground. This 

 disease in currants is caused by a liny mite which can 

 only be discerned under the ]50\\ei- of a microscopi-. 

 Sometimes these pests exist to the number of several 

 hundreds in a single bud, 



Amkkran Gooseherrv .Mildew, -This disease, like 

 the preceding one, can only be effectually got rid of by 

 burning. Thererore. all affected bushes should be 

 burnt, and no new bushes must be planted on (he site 

 of the old ones for at least two or three years. The 

 disease is now in its dormant, or resting stage, and is 

 not so easily detected as in the active, or summer stage, 

 when it may be found on the berries as well as on the 

 shoots. It will now have a brownish, felty appearance, 

 and will be found on the points of the young growths, 

 particularly those arising from the centre of the bush. 



Frop.\g.\ting Gooseberries .\nd Curr.\nts.— Young 

 plants are easily raised from cuttings, which root readily 

 if put in at the present time. Healthy shoots, about 

 fourteen inches in length, of the past season's growth 

 may be selected, and each cutting should have a 

 horizontal cut made with a sharp knife below the bottom 

 joint. The tips of the shoots are usually weak and are 

 best removed. In the case of gooseberry cuttings 

 the buds on the lower half of the cutting should be 

 rubbed off, otherwise suckers are liable to grow from 

 these underground buds and cause trouble later on. 

 The cuttings root best in light, sandy soil, near a north 

 wall or in a shady situation. I'he soil should be well 

 broken up, and if it is of a heavy nature some sand or 

 leaf-mould added. Place the cuttings in lines one and 

 a half feet apart, and four inches asunder. Open a cut 

 with the spade about three inches deep and press the 



