THE CHRISTMAS GARDEN 



Vegetables Dec. 



Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Seakale.—Coriimyx^ the 

 forcing of these vegetables in accordance with previous 

 instructions. 



Cauliflowers.— \i there are any Cauliflowers still 

 unused, it would be well to lift them and lay them in 

 a cool shed, otherwise they might be spoiled by hard 



frost. 



Endive.— \i there is any Endive of full size, it will 

 come in very useful for salads if blanched. Large empty 

 flower pots inverted over the plants will serve to blanch 



them. 



Lettuces in Frames.— Y onng plants that are being 

 grown in frames for winter salads should be ventilated 

 in fine weather, and protected with mats or straw during 



frost. 



Manuring Ground.— T^ikt the first opportunity of 

 frost to cart and wheel manure, or to do any other 

 work of transportation that may be necessary. Stable 

 manure is always useful in a garden, and a heap of 

 it accumulated now will steadily decay and come in 

 useful later on if not required at present. Two barrow- 

 loads of manure per square rod of ground (three if the 

 ground is poor) is a fair allowance, and, as stated in 

 the November chapter, it is best worked in below the 

 surface in the process of bastard-trenching, thus deepen- 

 ing and enriching the soil at one operation. Among 

 chemical manures, kainit and basic slag may be indi- 

 cated as potash and phosphoric acid yielders respec- 

 tively which may be dug in now. A quarter of a 

 pound of each to the square yard may be used, and it 

 is advantageous to turn them well below the surface. 

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