568 Horticultural Operations for December. 



FLOWER DEPARTMENT. 



The greenhouse in December, though less gay than either of the winter 

 months, may be rendered very attractive under the care of an active, think- 

 ing gardener. It will not do to wait till the month arrives, if we expect a 

 good show of flowers, but early preparation must be made, that a succession 

 of plants may be on hand to take the place of those done blooming. As 

 the Chrysanthemums go out, other things should be brought in, and, by 

 judicious management, a fine display of pretty things may be made all the 

 month. Gesnera zebrina, Epiphyllums, Euphorbias, monthly Pinks, Lon- 

 icera tryginum, Salvia fulgens, &c., are all handsome plants at this season. 

 Some of them, brought into the warmest end of the house, will soon expand 

 their flowers. Such plants as require repotting should now be attended to. 



Camellias will be well in flower by the close of the month. Water 

 liberally, syringe occasionally, and look over and bring into good shape all 

 crooked specimens. 



ChRYSANTHEMUMs, done blooming, may be removed to a frame or the 

 open ground, where they may be protected by a covering of leaves to pre- 

 vent the frost from breaking the pots. 



Japan Lilies may be potted now, and placed in a cold frame and covered 

 with leaves till February or March. 



Pelargoniums will now begin to make their growth; keep them rather 

 dry, and train out the shoots that they may make bushy specimens. 



OxALiSES, done flowering, may be placed away on a shelf under the 

 stage, and those coming into bloom, take their places. 



Verbenas will soon be in bloom ; repot all that require it ; train up to 

 neat stakes. 



Cinerarias must have good attention. See that the aphis do not attack 

 them. Repot if necessary. 



Callas shgijld now be shifted into larger pots. 



Gladioluses may still be potted if not already done. 



Nemophilas should be shifted into larger pots. 



Roses, taken up out of the ground in September or October, should now 

 be pruned and brought into the house. Syringe morning and evening till 

 they are well broken into leaf. 



Heaths should be kept in the coolest part of the house: water sparingly 

 and syringe occasionally. 



Pansies in pots will need a shift the last of the month. 



Monthly Carnations and Pinks should be shifted before the roots 

 become matted around the pots. 



Azaleas Avill still require to be rather sparingly watered, except such as 

 may be placed in a warmer part of the house to bloom. 



HeLioTROPES, in small pots, may be shifted into a larger size. 



Maurandias, now shifted, will soon begin to grow, and will make fine 

 flowering plants. 



Ten-week stocks should now be shifted into larger pots. 



Gloxinias may be brought into the warmest part of the house the last 

 of the month. They will make early flowering plants. 



All kinds of greenhouse plants which require it should now be repotted. 



