252 DECEMBER 



the rose-beds and to remove faulty stakes. The 

 autumn gales will hardly have permitted every one 

 to remain intact, and the ground is soft enough 

 during most of December to allow weak supports to 

 be replaced by strong ones. In January we may be 

 frost bound, and the standard trees might have to 

 wait long for adequate support if their need of it is 

 not discovered now. 



In the greenhouse and storehouse it is advisable 

 to look over begonia bulbs, dahlias, gladioli, and 

 other such things. Those that may be rotting will 

 be better on the rubbish heap, and care will prevent 

 others from following them. The damp fogs of the 

 month are in themselves sufficiently dangerous to 

 plants under glass without the added risk of decay- 

 ing vegetable matter within. Dead leaves should 

 be removed as soon as they fall, or sooner, and care 

 must be used in watering not to sprinkle the house 

 and stages unnecessarily. 



Cinerarias coming into bloom will be the better 

 for weak applications of manure water every three 

 or four days, but it is important not to allow the 

 flowering zonal pelargoniums to enjoy this luxury. 

 Manure water is beneficial to them in their growing 

 season, when root and leaf have to be encouraged 

 to unite in making good plants. But if it is given 

 when they are in full flower they will immediately 

 put forth large efforts for improving their foliage, 

 and the flowers will greatly diminish in number 

 and perhaps cease altogether. I lost more than 

 one season's bloom through Sterculus's well-meant 

 generosity to them in early winter. 



The best quality of bulbs is their perfect willing- 



