Horticultural Operations for January. 47 



checked by the severity of the cold, and but little can be done to advan- 

 tage. 



Under glass, except where fruit is forced very early, there is also but 

 little labor required in January. Even in greenhouses, where there are vines, 

 if they have been pruned, washed and put in order, as they should be ere 

 this, no further attention is necessary till they begin to grow in February. 



Where grapes, or other fruit are forced early, — by commencing either in 

 November or December, — now will be the time when the successful culti- 

 vator will be on the alert ; for the sudden changes, extreme cold, or dull 

 cloudy weather of long duration, render all such early forcing precarious, 

 uncertain, and often attended with the partial injury or loss of the crop. A 

 little delay or inattention is sure to lead to such a result. 



Grapes, in vineries, started in December, will now have broken their 

 eyes, and will soon be in bloom. Every care should be taken that damp, 

 during the period of blooming, does not injure or destroy the flowers ; for 

 this sometimes happens at this season, during a long continued spell of cold 

 rainy, or snowy weather. Air freely in good weather. Do not keep up too 

 high a night temperature ; and guard against damp by seasonable fires kept 

 on during the day, rather than by an increased temperature at night, as is 

 often done. 



Vines, in greenhouses, if from any cause left unpruned, should now be 

 attended to, in order to give time for the wounds to heal. They will gener- 

 ally break by the middle of February. 



Figs and Peaches in pots, may now be pruned, and the wood washed 

 with whale oil soap. Keep them in a cool cellar or shed, preparatory to 

 their introduction into the house, in March. 



Scions of fruit trees may now be cut, placing them in a cool place, with 

 the ends inserted in earth. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



The worst month of the winter season has passed, and with the return of 

 longer days and a more powerful sun, plants will soon show signs of in- 

 creasing vigor and growth. The extreme cold of December has required a 

 large amount of heat to ward off frost, and this, too, during the dull and 

 darkest days of winter ; and the earliest opportunity should be taken to air 

 freely and harden off the etiolated growth, which a strong fire heat is sure 

 to develop. 



Now is the proper time for the ambitious gardener to look over and lay 

 out his plans for the whole season ; by doing this now, and making a mem- 

 orandum of what should be done, something like system is established, and 

 the work not only goes on more rapidly and with less labor of mind, when 

 the busy season commences, but many things are put under way, which 

 otherwise might be overlooked. A word to the wise, &c. 



The greenhouse and conservatory, to be kept in their greatest beauty, 

 should always have a stock in reserve, both to keep up a variety, as well as 

 to afford a long continuance of bloom. Oestrums, Lauristinus, and similar 

 woody plants, as soon as done flowering, may be partially pruned in, and 

 placed away under the stage, to be removed to the open air, in April. Au- 



