DECEMBER. 



729 



DECEMBER. 



not move or grow for two or three months 

 to come ; but if vegetation does not move, 

 that is no reason why man should not. 

 The experienced gardener knows the im- 

 portance of winter operations, and knows, 

 in fact, how work, judiciously done now, 

 will save much toil in the spring and 

 summer. Supposing it is only necessary 

 to manure the ground once a year, let it 

 be done in the winter ; it is generally most 

 convenient, and the work is better adapted 

 to the season. Digging and trenching is 

 much better done now than in warmer 

 weather, and this more particularly applies 

 to heavy soils ; some, indeed, cannot be 

 cropped at all unless dug a month or six 

 weeks beforehand, either summer or winter; 

 and it is much more advantageous to move 

 the ground, and let it lie in clods so that 

 the air permeates around them, and the 

 action of the frost brings it into a state 

 easy to work, and better for the seeds, than 

 to leave the work to be done just before 

 the ground is required for sowing. 



Endive. Blanch with pots, and cover 

 with litter ; and a good supply may be 

 kept up the whole winter without having 

 recourse to frames, the litter helping to 

 blanch it before the pots are put on ; but a 

 dusting of lime should be given occasionally 

 to destroy slugs, which are very fond of 

 endive. 



Lettuces. These should be kept under 

 protectors, cloches, or handlights. Air is 

 said not to be essential to them, but of this 

 there is room for doubt. When the frost 

 is severe, loose litter should be placed 

 round and over the frames, glasses, &c., 

 to afford additional protection to the plants. 



Parsnips. These and other crops that 

 remain in the ground ought to be covered 

 with litter or leaves. The slightest cover- 

 ing will make a vast difference in case of 

 sharp frost, which should always be looked 

 for at this time. 



Peas attd Beans of the earliest kinds may 



be sown on light ground ; but it is not 

 advisable to sow many. Those sown in 

 February will be as early within a few 

 days, and much more certain. 



Rotation of Crops. There is now most 

 likely some portion of ground vacant, and 

 as no general cropping can be done for 

 some time, a little attention can well be 

 given, and would be well bestowed, in 

 considering the important matter of a ro- 

 tation of crops. If no regular system has 

 been adopted before, let it be decided at 

 once to begin a systematic arrangement of 

 the various subjects to be dealt with. 

 Much more work may be done under i 

 proper system than by continuing the hap* 

 hazard style ; and not only so, but a great 

 many more subjects may be grown on a 

 given space by giving each group its proper 

 place. 



Seakale. Some may be covered for forc- 

 ing. Place the kale pot over a bunch of 

 crowns ; see that enough is covered ; then, 

 having previously prepared and shaken 

 out the dung, and got it into a condition 

 to maintain a moderate heat, cover the 

 pots to a thickness of about 3 feet from 

 the ground. Too great a body of dung 

 is apt to heat too violently, and spoil 

 the crowns ; give just enough to maintain 

 a moderate heat, and no more. The sea- 

 kale will be ready to cut in about three 

 weeks, according to the amount of heat. 

 Some gardeners cover with leaves, which 

 answers the purpose ; but in collecting 

 leaves, a great many slugs and other vermin 

 are collected with them. These do mis- 

 chief to the kale, otherwise the effect is 

 the same. 



Seed Solving^ &c. The instructions 

 given in the monthly calendar for November 

 for provision for early crops apply equally 

 to this month, and need not be repeated. 



Seeds, 6rv. Some attention should be 

 given both to the various stores of seeds 

 and vegetables : the latter should be looked 



