MONTHLY CALENDER 



OF 



HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE, 



FOR JANUARY. 



We take great pleasure in being able to offer a few observations and re- 

 marks, which we intend to continue every month, on such horticultural and 

 floricultural memoranda, as may be of considerable value to the generality of 

 our readers. We do not do this with the intention of extending the pages of 

 the work, at the expense of excluding other matter, but because we think it 

 will be found extremely interesting, and one of the most useful objects of our 

 Magazine. It will remind the amateur or practical gardener, of some of the 

 most important operations, which should be performed in every month in the 

 year, in every garden where any considerable collection of fruits, flowers, or 

 vegetables are grown. Very often, various ex|)eriments and operations, 

 which the industrious gardener is looking forward with anxiety for the proper 

 season to execute them, escape tlie memory ; especially if there happens to 

 be an accumulation of labor. But if his eye glances over a calender, it would 

 undoubtedly light upon some subject, which would immediately recal to mind 

 something, which otherwise might have been forgotten, and a whole year 

 lost, in waiting for the return of another season. 



During this month, nothing can be done in the garden, unless the weather 

 be uncommonly mild ; preparations may, however, be made for the forcing 

 of cucumbers, melons, asparagus, lettuces, radishes, &c., in such gardens and 

 establishments as it is desired to have them very early. The time generally 

 allowed, at this season of the year, for fruiting the cucumber, is from eight to 

 ten weeks. If the seed-beds are made about the middle or end of this 

 month, the fruit may be cut about the first of April. Radishes and lettuces 

 come to perfection much earlier. The dung for cucumber beds should be 

 collected in a heap, and, if the weather is very cold, should be covered on 

 the north side with straw, leaves, corn-stalks or mats, so as to prevent the 

 evaporation of heat, when it begins to ferment. When the whole becomes 

 heated, (which maybe easily discovered by plunging a sharp stick into it, 

 and then holding to the hand) it should be turned over, and layabout ten 

 days, before it is made into the beds; this preparation is necessary to destroy 

 the rank heat, which would be apt to burn the jdants. 



liCttuces in frames, must be kept clear of all rotten leaves, till removed to 

 the beds in which they are to head. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



The beauties of the flower-garden sometimes, in favorable seasons, linger 

 even into the "bosom of winter," and the last, fading, frost-bitten chrysanthe- 

 mums seem unwilling to cease their efibrts, to expand their smitten flowers. 

 Even from among the old haulm and stubble collected in the flower-border, as 

 late as this month, may be seen the pansy, peeping out its head, in its gay 

 colors, defying even the rigor of our stern winters; but the cold and north- 

 erly blasts exhaust and overpower the efforts of the vegetable world, and 

 they remain dorraant, until the return of vernal spring. 



