DECEMBER. 



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DECEMBER. 



DECEMBER. 



Aspect and Character of 

 Month. 



December, the last month of our year, 

 was, as its name indicates, the tenth of the 

 Roman calendar. Although the thermo- 

 meter often sinks below freezing during 

 \Tiis month, the frosts are seldom of long 

 continuance. Rain and wind abound, and 

 look for falls of snow towards its close. 



The variations of temperature are smaller 

 than in November. The mean temperature 

 of the earth, one foot beneath the surface, 

 is now 41 -13; at two feet, 42-83; that of 

 <lhe atmosphere being 38-14. 



December- Conservatory, 

 Work in. 



Cleanliness, so essential to health every- 

 where, is especially necessary in the con- 

 servatory, where nothing offensive to good 

 taste should ever be seen. The interest of 

 this house is often much increased at this 

 season by introducing some pots of Christ- 

 mas roses, hyacinths, single and double 

 narcissuses, &c., from the forcing pit. 

 The edges of the beds, shelves, and vases 

 may also be decorated with variegated and 

 plain holly, and pillars from which fuchsias 

 or other climbers have been removed, be 

 wreathed in the same manner. These, 

 with occasional syringing, will keep fresh 

 for six weeks, and very much increase the 

 interest of the house. The chrysanthe- 

 mums will continue flowering during the 

 month, and camellias be coming on to 

 supply their place. 



Azaleas. After camellias, Indian azaleas 

 stand next in order of importance for con- 

 servatory decoration ; but for flowering in 

 December an early habit must be induced, 

 which may be brought about by merely 

 placing them in the conservatory in the 

 autumn, or by aid of the forcing pit. 



j Camellias. Next to rhododendrons, 01 

 even exceeding them, in usefulness, is the 

 camellia, and December is the month 

 above all others when it is most useful. 

 By inducing early growth and early 

 maturity, it will flower now from habit 

 as well, if not better, than in any other 

 month. 



Rhododendrons. The tree rhododen- 

 dron (Rhododendron arboreum], grown 

 for several years under glass, will also 

 flower now in the conservatory without 

 any forcing. With a very little forcing, 

 Black -eyed Susan, Bianchi, Brayanum, 

 Captain Webb, Caractacus, Charles 

 Dickens, JR. delicatissinium, R. fastuosum 

 flore plena, lago, Ne Plus Ultra, Nero, 

 Princess of Wales, and The Queen, might 

 be got in flower during the month. With 

 these, and half-a-dozen plants of R. ar- 

 boreum, a magnificent effect during winter 

 and early spring could be produced. 



Routine Work in Glazed Structures. 

 As this is a leisure season of the year, even 

 with regard to work to be done under, 

 glass, bring up all arrears of work, so as to 

 start even with the new year. The re- 

 labelling, cleaning, and arranging of all 

 plants should be diligently forwarded, so 

 that every plant should have its proper 

 name attached to it, and look at its beat 

 before Christmas. Climbers on roof& and 

 pillars should have their final pruning, 

 cleaning, and tying, if it has not been 

 already done, and every dead leaf and 

 every visible or invisible particle of dirt 

 should be removed. 



Ventilation, <5rV. The same principles 

 will apply to giving air, &c., as in No- 

 vember ; only, as we have generally more 

 sun this month, more may be admitted. 

 Care must, however, be taken to prevent a 

 cold draught cutting off the beauty of any 

 plant that may have recently come from a 

 warmer house or forcing pit. 



Winter Heaths and Epacrises. The 



