DECEMBER. 



726 



DECEMBER. 



possible, defer it till the first week of 

 January, when you will receive the full 

 benefit of the vivyfying influences, a 

 clearer atmosphere, and more sunlight 

 than falls to our lot in November. 



Vines, Treatment of. The vines have 

 been awake for weeks, and they are now 

 showing branches. By aid of artificial 

 heat, maintain a temperature of 60 by 

 night, and one of 70 by day; admit 

 every possible ray of light; keep the 

 leaves within 9 inches of the glass, and 

 create a midsummer climate in December. 

 Examine frequently the state of the 

 borders, and keep the roots as warm 

 as the tops. Stop the shoots a joint 

 beyond the branches; damp the floors, 

 paths, and pipes, if these are used, during 

 bright days ; admit air whenever it is 

 practicable, and try to secure strength 

 rather than length. 



Figs. Osborn's Prolific, Dwarf Prolific, 

 Negro Large, and Brown Ischia are among 

 the best sorts grown; but White Ischia, 

 Marseilles, and Black Halicon, or Black 

 Marseilles, are perhaps better for forcing. 

 The plants in trees and pots should be 

 thoroughly cleaned, new borders made, 

 .rapid - growing trees root pruned, and all 

 top dressed, &c., ready for an immediate 

 start. 



Peach House. In many places the fruit 

 house is started this month. For in- 

 structions in the preliminary stages, see 

 last month. It is objectionable to allow 

 trees in late peach houses and orchard 

 houses to get frozen. The wood cannot 

 bear cold so well as that nurtured out of 

 doors ; therefore, the outside borders of 

 early houses should be protected, as much 

 to keep in as to send in heat. 



Pinery. Keep fruiting pines almost 

 entirely dry if you wish them to start in 

 January. Maintain a day temperature of 

 70 j night, 60 to 63". This dryness may 

 be necessary to throw the plants into 



bloom. Nothing does this more effectu- 

 ally than a check, although the check 

 must neither be too severe nor too long 

 continued. Beware of moisture settling 

 upon any pines that may now be in flower, 

 as it often prevents the proper fructification 

 of the blossoms ; and deformed, or not 

 formed, fruit is the consequence. Embrace 

 every opportunity of admitting air when 

 the external atmosphere will permit, and 

 keep the plants within one foot of the 

 glass. 



Succession Plants. Succession plants, 

 if kept tolerably dry, may be wintered in 

 pits, at a temperature of 60, with perfect 

 safety. Beware of an excess of heat, or 

 any sudden change of temperature, lest 

 you cause premature growth or start them 

 into fruit, 



Strawberries. The first batch of straw- 

 berries should also be introduced. Cuthill's 

 Black Prince is as good as any for the early 

 season, and if the plants can have a little 

 bottom heat, so much the better. Plants in 

 48-sized pots also do best for early work, the 

 cramping principle again inducing fruit- 

 fulness. 



December. Greenhouse, Work 

 in. 



Cinerarias. The earliest of these will 

 now be in flower, and will have been 

 removed to the conservatory ; succession 

 plants will be coming on here. 



Pelargoniums. Early varieties for cut 

 flowers may be forced into bloom in a 

 vinery or peach house at work. The 

 general stock will require careful treat- 

 ment this month. The latest flowering 

 specimens may receive their final shift, 

 and all will require careful training, a 

 genial temperature of 45, and great skill 

 n watering and ventilating. Fancv 

 varieties often show a disposition to 

 bloom prematurely. These early flowers 

 must be perseveringly removed, to throw 



