



110 VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN. 



ground too should be well dug and trenched. The 

 baking and other winter pears and apples should 

 be carefully gathered, not bruised. The raspber- 

 ries may be pruned this month, and the young 

 suckers removed to create new plants. Make fresh 

 layers of carnations. Dig and dress up the flower 

 borders, and transplant such flowers as may be 

 found necessary. Divide the roots of others that 

 have ^increased too much. Prune and plant all flow- 

 ering shrubs and evergreens. Weed the gravel 

 walks frequently and thoroughly. 



NOVEMBER. In the flower garden clear all the 

 beds from dead annual plants, pulling them out by 

 their roots. Cut down, too, all the dead stalks of 

 perennials, then hoe the borders of a dry day, clear 

 away the weeds, and rake the whole smooth. The 

 soil in the spring will be greatly improved by being 

 manured at this time, for the frost and sun and air 

 all contribute to render it fine and mellow for the 

 spring crops. 



DECEMBER. The garden is hard bound by the 

 frost, or covered over with its garment of snow ; it 

 affords now no occupation or pleasure. The green- 

 house, to those who are so fortunate as to possess 

 a luxury of this kind, must take its place. For 

 lack of this, a flower stand, filled with flowering 

 shrubs, is a source of pleasure. Care must be 

 taken to keep the leaves of parlor plants washed 

 clean, the earth moist, and loosened about the 

 roots. If the plants are in a room which is daily 

 swept, it is better to throw a large cloth over them 

 to protect them from the dust, which is very injuri- 

 ous to the plants. 



