DECEMBER. 



725 



DECEMBER. 



suckers from the stools, but defer pruning 

 till March. 



Standard Trees. Standard apples and 

 pears should now receive their final autumn 

 pruning and thinning out, the latter being 

 chiefly exercised on the interior branches 

 of the tree, so as to admit of a free current 

 ofairth- jh it. Remove all badly- placed 

 shoots. 



Standard Trees, Large. Large, standard 

 trees in their prime only reqube pruning 

 once in two or three years. At these 

 intervals cross-growing or exhausted shoots, 

 especially those in the centre of the tree, 

 require thinning out, bearing in mind that 

 the best fruit grows at the extremities of 

 the branches, and keep those branches 

 under control. In cases where languid 

 growth and barrenness have been engen- 

 dered by exhausted soil, dig a trench 

 round the tree and lay in some barrow- 

 fuls of rich fresh soil ; then fork over 

 the surface, and give a dressing of well- 

 rotted stable manure. Where the ex- 

 haustion rises from the tap root having 

 penetrated to an unwholesome subsoil, dig 

 a trench deep enough to reach the root, 

 and sever it from the tree if it is one worth 

 preserving, and fill up the trench again 

 with good fresh soil, and top dress with 

 manure. 



Spring Planting, Preparation for. 

 December is the month of rest here as in 

 other departments of the garden ; but there 

 is much to be done which is too often left 

 undone. Planting may now be presumed 

 to be over ; at least, unless the weather is 

 unusually mild, it will be well to prepare 

 the ground, and leave the planting until 

 the early spring. 



Strawberries. It is thought that straw- 

 berry plants are better for protection during 

 severe winters. A light covering of fern, 

 pea-haulm, straw, or other light material 

 will preserve the plants in vigour at a very 

 slight cost. 



Wall Trees, Management of. Peaches, 

 nectarines, and other wall trees now require 

 pruning, and the shoots selected nailed in ; 

 but both operations should be avoided in 

 frosty weather, pruning in such weather 

 being apt to lacerate the sap vessels and 

 destroy the shoots, which die back under 

 its influence. 



December. Glasshouses for 

 Fruit, &e., Work in. 



Vine Borders. Vine borders may 

 also be formed, or old borders renewed 

 during this month. Old vines may also be 

 taken up where the borders are bad, the 

 roots carefully preserved, a new border 

 made and skilfully planted, and half a crop 

 taken the first season. Young vines may 

 also be planted in a dormant state or first 

 started in pots, and then put in the border 

 in June or July. The great point in plant- 

 ing at any season is carefully to surround 

 the roots, sprinkle some leaf mould over 

 them, and keep them within 6 inches of 

 the surface. A mulching of dung or some 

 litter will be necessary to prevent them 

 being dried up ; and if the vine is in full 

 growth when planted, the top must be 

 shaded a few days until the roots have laid 

 hold of the soil ; then let the top run as far 

 as it chooses. Leave laterals and all on. 

 The more growth for the next four months 

 the better, because the larger the top, the 

 greater the number of healthy roots. Upon 

 the number, nearness to the surface, and 

 strength of these, all future success may 

 be said to depend. 



Vines, Fruit on. Continue to look over 

 and preserve late grapes, and maintain a 

 cool and equable temperature of 40 to 50. 

 If a gemle current of air can be kept up 

 through the houses by night and by day, 

 the fruit will keep all the better. 



Vines ; Succession. Where a succession 

 of grapes is wanted, start another vinery ; 

 proceed as detailed last month, or, i/ 



